• 


Armie*    refc*«edL    to  "^    Me*.  ~to 
bore*  ~tn&m. 


STEPHEN  B.  WEEKS 

CLASS  OF  1686;  PH.D.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 


OF  THE 


ME  WEEKS  OTJLECTIC 


2^370^1.- F«7 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032757044 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 

THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 
THIS  I1TLE  HAS  BEEN  MICROFILMED 


W* 


I  *-y 


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;  QOMPL1RJENTS 

PASSENGER    dEPARTMEWT 

601"T0N  BELT  RbUtE 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/flagsofconfederaunit 


The  Flags 


OF   THE 


Confederate  Armies. 


RETURNED  TO  THE  MEN  WHO  BORE  THEM 


UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT. 


1905. 


DESIGNED,   ENGRAVED    AND    PRINTED 
BY    BUXTON    &     SKINNER,    ST.    LOUIS. 


"THE  RETURNED  BATTLE  FLAGS." 


By  Mrs.  Eros'  Opha  Gregory 
Assistant  in  Mississippi  Department  of  Archives  and  History. 


Oh,  not  with  gayly  spreading  folds, 
And  colors  fresh  and  bright, 

They  fling  their  gleaming  stars  and  bars, 
Triumphant,  to  the  light; 

But  sadly  'round  their  broken  staffs. 
They  droop  in  faded  folds, 

Their  service 'o'er,  their  duty  done. 
Their  wondrous  story  told. 

Upon  their  wreck  the  warrior  aged, 
Looks  long,  with  moistened  eye, 

Caressing  each  worn  fold,  the  while 
Is  heard  his  heavy  sigh. 

Once  more  he  sees  the  gleaming  host, 
That  pressed  with  fearless  tread, 

Toward  the  heights  of  liberty, 

Strewn  with  its  countless  dead. 

And  never  pennon  streamed  above 
A  rank,  more  fair  than  the 

Bright  ensigns  of  that  proud  gray  host 
Of  Robert  Edmund  Lee.    . 

To-day,  with  flowers  springing  where 
War's  crimson  currents  ran, 
And  peace  and  love  starring  all  the 
Rich  splendor  of  the  land, 

These  furled  and  silent  banners  stir 

No  sad  regret  and  pain, 
For  we  read  our  fairest  history  in 

The  storv  of  their  fame. 


-0 
-J 


Flag  of  the  Sixth  Arkansas  Volunteers. 
Surrendered  with  Johnson's  Army,  at  the  end  of  the  struggle,  April  26,  I860. 


Returned  Arkansas  Confederate  Flags. 


The  following  historical  record  of  the  troops  from  the  State  of  Arkansas, 
-whose  returned  battle  flags  are  reproduced  as  they  now  appear,  faded  and 
battle-scarred,  is  as  complete  as  it  has  been  possible  to  make  it,  much  of 
the  material  having  to  be  obtained  from  the  memory  of  old  veterans,  there 
being  no  existing  complete  records. 

Lyons'  Regiment — Sixth  Arkansas  Volunteers.     Commenced  the  war  with  the  follow- 
ing Field  and  Staff  Officers:   Richard  Lyons,  Colonel;   A.  T.  Hawthorn,  Lieutenant-Colonel- 

D.  L.  Kilgore,  Major;   C.  A.  Bridewell,  Adjutant;  J.  F.  Ritchie,  Quartermaster-Sergeant. 

Company  "A" — The  Capital  Guards,  of  Little  Rock:   Gordon  N.  Peay,  Captain;   John 

E.  Reardon,  First  Lieutenant;    D.  C.  Fulton,  Second  Lieutenant;   John  B.Lockman  Third 
Lieutenant 

Company  "B" — The  Yellow  Jackets,  from  Calhoun  County:    Philip  H.  Echols,  Cap- 
tain;   C.  A.  Bridewell,  First  Lieutenant. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  "Bloody"  7th  Arkansas  Infantry  Regiment. 
Surrendered  at  Bentonville,  March  19th,  1865.     One  of  the  last  battles  of  the  war. 


Company  "C" — From  Dallas  County:  F.  J.  Cameron,  Captain,  subsequently  becom- 
ing Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment;    M.   M.  Duffie,   First   Lieutenant. 

Company  "D" — From  Ouachita  County:    Captain  Hodnet. 

Company  "E" — From  Arkansas  County:  Samuel  G.  Smith,  Captain,  subsequently 
becoming   Colonel   of  the   regiment. 

Company  "F" — From  Lafayette  County:    Samuel  H.  Dill,  Captain. 

Company   "G" — From  Columbia    County:     D.    L.    Kilgore,   Captain;    J.    W.   Austin, 

First  Lieutenant;    N.  J.  Gantt    Second  Lieutenant;  Thomas  Seay,  Third  Lieutenant;  

Nations,  First  Sergeant;    James  H.   Paschal,  First  Corporal,  afterwards  Orderly  Sergeant 

on  re-organization;    Crown,  Second  Corporal.     On  Captain  Kilgore  becoming  Major 

of  the  regiment,  J.  W.  Austen  became  Captain. 

Company  "H" — From  Camden  County:  Captain  Richard  Lyons,  but  on  his  being 
elected  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  Sam  H.  Southerland  became  Captain;  E.  W.  Elliott,  First 
Lieutenant;  A.  J.  Griggs,  Second  Lieutenant;  G.  A.  Proctor,  Orderly  Sergeant;  7  other 
officers  and  57  men,  total  of  company  69. 

Company  "I" — From  Ouachita  County:  J.  W.  Kingwcll.  Captain;  J.  H.  Scroggins. 
First  Lieutenant;  E.  N.  -Hill  Second  Lieutenant:  J.  C.  Croxton,  Third  Lieutenant;  H.  T. 
Jones,  First  Sergeant;  H.  L.  Grayson,  Second  Sergeant;  C.  C.  Arnold,  Third  Sergeant; 
J.  A.  Thompson,  Fourth  Sergeant;    4  other  officers,  58  men,  total  strength  of  company  70. 

Company  "K" — Captain  Barnes;  Judge  Joseph  W.  Martin  became  Captain  on  the 
re-organization. 

The  strength  of  the  regiment  "ii  organization  was  over  1.000  men. 


-\ 


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SHILOH.  ELK.     H! 


ARK 


7$m£ 


Battle  Flag  of  the  8th  Arkansas  Infantry  Regiment. 

Carried  through  the  war  and  surrendered  with  Johnson's  Army,  April  26th, 
Also  Battle  Flag  of  the  19th  Arkansas  Infantry  Regiment,  which 
was  consolidated  with  the  8th  Arkansas  Regiment. 


1S65. 


Colonel  Richard  Lyons  was  killed  at  the  Tennessee  River,  October  10,1861,  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel A.  T.  Hawthorn  became  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  Gordon  N.  Peay,  Captain 
of  Company  "A"  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel;  First  Lieutenant  John  E.  Reardon  became 
Captain  of  Company  "A"  and  John  G.  Fletcher  was  elected  from  the  ranks,  First  Lieuten- 
ant of  the  company. 

After  the  battle  of  Shiloh  the  regiment  was  re-organized,  and  Lieutenant  Fletcher 
became  Captain  of  Company  "A",  and  served  as  such  to  the  conclusion  of  the  war.  He 
was  wounded  and  made  prisoner  at  Murfreesboro  and  remained  in  prison  four  months, 
when  he  was  exchanged. 

Major  Kilgore  served  with  the  regiment  until  the  summer  of  1862  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  under  General  Albert  Rust.  On  reaching  the 
Department  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  Nineteenth  Arkansas  Infantry,  Col.  Smead,  and 
was  made  Major  of  it. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  went  first  to  Pocahontas,  Arkansas;  from  there  to  Southeast 
Missouri;  then  to  Columbus,  Kentucky;  then  to  Bowling  Green,  where  it  was  placed  in 
Hindman's  Brigade.  When  Johnston  retreated  after  the  fall  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donald- 
son, the  Sixth  Regiment  was  one  of  those  which  covered  the  retreat  to  Corinth,  Mississippi. 
It  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  lost  many  men.  From  Shiloh  it  went  to  Corinth 
and  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  where  the  regiment  was  re-organized.  From  there  it  was  placed 
in  Bragg's  Army,  and  went  to  Chattanooga;  then  into  Kentucky,  where  it  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  October  8,  1862,  and  Murfreesboro,  December  31,  1862;  January 
2,  1865,  at  Liberty  Gap;  at  Chickamauga,  Septemebr  19  and  20,  1863;  Missionary  Ridge, 
November  25,  1863;    and  Franklin,  November  30,  1864. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  30th  Arkansas  Infantry. 


In  all  of  these  battles  it  lost  heavily,  and  particularly  at  Shiloh,  Murfreesboro  and 
Franklin. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  belonged  to  Hardee's  Brigade,  afterwards  Lidell's,  and  then 
Govan's,  and  was  in  Cleburn's  Division.  It  was  in  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  armv, 
and  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  his  campaign  opposing  Sherman,  and  finally  was  sur- 
rendered with  Johnston  at  the  end  of  the  struggle. 

The  Seventh  Arkansas  Infantry  was  mustered  into  the  Confederate  Army  with  the 
ollowing  field  and  staff  officers:  Robert  G.  Shaver,  Colonel;  William  R.  Cain,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  at  organization,  but  afterwards  John  M.  Dean,  became  Lieutenant-Colonel;  James 
J.  Martin,  Major,;  Jack  Horn,  Adjutant;  H.  C.  Tunsell,  Sergeant-Major;  William  Atillo, 
Quartermaster;  John  D.  Spriggs,  Commissary;  Ben  Adler,  Wagonmaster;  Jenifer  T.  Spriggs, 
Ordinance-Sergeant. 

The  different  companies  of  the  regiment  were  commanded  by  John  C.  McCaulev,  of 
White  County,  Senior  Captain;  George  B.  Orme,  of  Jackson  County,  Second  Senior  Captain  ; 

Joseph  H.  Martin,  of  Randolph  County,  Third  Senior  Captain;   and  Captains Deason. 

of  Izard  County;    M.  Van  Shaver,  of  Fulton  County;   John  H.  Dye,  of  the  "Pike  Guards"; 

—  Warner,  of  Lawrence  County;    Wm.  Blackburn,  of  Marion  County;    Mellon,  of 

Randolph  County;    and  Brightwell,  of  Independence  County. 

The  regiment  was  organized  at  Smithville,  Lawrence  County,  June  16,  1861;  went 
into  camp  at  Camp  Shaver,  near  Pocahontas,  Randolph  County,  with  1,250  men  on  the 
muster  rolls.  It  was  the  first  regiment  drilled  and  disciplined  by  General  Hardee,  after 
its  transfer  to  the  Confederate  service,  and  was  the  nucleus  on  which  he  formed  his  Fir-it 
Brigade,  which  consisted  of  the  Second  and  Third  Confederate;  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh 
and   Eighth   Arkansas  Regiments,  and  McCarver's  Regiment,   with  McCown's  Battery. 


The  Seventh  Regiment  was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  April  6  and  7,  1862;  Perry ville, 
Kentucky,  October  8,  1862;  Murfreesboro,  December  31,  1862  and  January  2,  1863;  Chicka- 
mauga,  September  19, and  20,  1863;  Missionary  Ridge,  November  23,  24  and  25,  1863- 
Ringgold  Gap,  November  27,  1863;  Resaca,  May  29,  1864;  Pickett's  Mill,  May  26,  1S64; 
New  Hope  Church,  May  29,  1864;  Kennesaw  Mountain,  June  17  to  July  3,  1864;  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  July  20,  1864;  Atlanta,  July  22  and  28,  1864;  Ezra  Church,  July  28,  1864; 
Jonesboro,  August  31,  1864;  Franklin,  November  30,  1864;  Nashville,  December  15,  1S64; 
and  Bentonville,  the  last  battle  of  the  war,  March  19,  1865. 

At  Shiloh  the  regiment  earned  the  sobriquet  of  "The  Bloody  Seventh"  bestowed  upon 
them  by  General  Hardee,  in  person  on  the  battlefield,  for  their  gallant  storming  of  Prentiss' 
lines,  causing  him  to  surrender,  and  by  this  name  they  were  ever  afterwards  known. 

There  was  not  a  battle  nor  a  skirmish  by  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  but  that  they  bore 
in  it  their  full  share. 

The  Seventh  Arkansas  Regiment,  (Col.  Shavers)  had  become  so  decimated  from  its 
losses  that  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Sixth.  After  the  battle  of  Franklin,  at  roll  call 
only  45  men  answered  to  their  names  out  of  the  two  regiments  combined. 

At  Peach  Tree  Creek,  the  regiment  was  nearly  wiped  out,  and  at  Bentonville,  the 
Second,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh  and  Eighth  Regiments  had  become  so  depleted  that  they 
were  all  consolidated  into  one  regiment,  and  barely  made  a  good-sized  regiment  then. 

The  Seventh  went  into  the  war  with  1,250  men  on  its  muster  rolls,  and  came  out  with 
150,  of  whom  probably  not  more  than  100  are  now  living. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  while  at  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  Colonel  Shaver  was 
transferred  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  and  in  that  department  raised  another 
regiment,  which  he  commanded  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Eighth  Arkansas  Infantry  Regiment  was  raised  by  William  K.  Patterson,  who 
was  made  its  Colonel,  and  who  commanded  it  from  its  organization,  of  Jacksonport,  in  the 
summer  of  1861,  to  the  time  of  its  re-organization  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  late'  in  the 
spring  or  early  in  the  summer  of  1862. 

At  the  re-organization,  John  H.  Kelley  became  Colonel;  James  H.  Wilson,  of  Jackson- 
port, Lieutenant-Colonel;  G.  F.  Baucum,  Major.  During  the  Kentucky  campaign,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Wilson  resigned;  Major  G.  F.  Baucum,  became  Lieutenant-Colonel;  and 
Anderson  Watkins,  son  of  Judge  George  C.  Watkins,  Major.  Afterwards  Colonel  Kelley 
was  promoted  to  Brigadier-General;  G.  F.  Baucum  became  Colonel;  and  Anderson  Watkins 
Lieutenant-Colonel. 

The  regiment  was  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh;  then  went  with  Bragg's  Army  on  his  cam- 
paign in  Kentucky;  was  in  the  battles  at  Perryville  and  Murfreesboro;  from  there  went  to 
Chattanooga ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Ringgold  Gap  Resaca 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ezra  Church  and  Atlanta.  In'this  battle  Colonei 
Baucum  was  wounded,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  Watkins  was  killed,  and  the  regiment 
suffered  greatly  in  killed  and  wounded,  Colonel  Baucum  was  never  able  to  rejoin  the 
regiment  after  being  wounded. 

This  regiment  was  one  of  Cleburne's  Division,  and  participated  in  all  the  marches 
and  battles  of  that  command,  and  surrendered  with  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  troops  April 
26,  1865. 

The  Eighth  Arkansas  Infantry  entered  the  Confederate  service  with  the  following  field 
officers:  Wm.  K.  Patterson,  Colonel;  Henry  M.  Crouch,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  John  A 
Price,  Major;  Dr.  L.  H.  Dickson,  Surgeon;  Dr.  Gee,  Assistant  Surgeon;  and  Tom  Watson' 
Quartermaster.  ' 

The  Nineteenth  Arkansas  Infantry  was  organized  at  Nashville,  Arkansas,  in  November 
1861,  with  the  following  officers;  C.  L.  Dawson,  Colonel;  P.  R.  Smith,  Lieutenant-Colonel- 
Joseph  H    Anderson,  Major;    A.  S.  Hutchinson,  Adjutant. 

Company  "A" — Captain  Castleman. 

Company  "B" — Captain  Gabe  Stewart. 

Company   "C" — Captain.  Spars. 

Company  "D" — Captain  J.  H.  Carter. 

Company  "E" — Captain  Nathan  Eldrigde. 

Company   "F" — Captain  D.  H.  Hamiter. 

Company  "G"— Captain  D.  C.  Cowling,  afterwards  Captain  George  U 

Clark,  after  the  capture  of  Arkansas  Post 
Company  "H" — Captain  Featherston. 
Company  "I" — Captain  Burton  H.  Kinsworthy. 
Company  "K" — Captain  Herndon. 


The  regiment  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Elkhorn,  March  7,  1862,  and  Arkansas  Post, 
January  11,   1863. 

At  the  capture  of  Arkansas  Post,  about  one-half  only  of  the  regiment  was  made  prison- 
ers, the  remaining  portion  not  being  of  the  garrison.  The  portion  which  was  captured 
was  taken  to  northern  prisons,  and  the  men  were  exchanged  at  City  Point,  Virginia,  in  May 
1863.  After  being  exchanged,  they  were  consolidated  with  a  portion  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Arkansas,  Colonel  Portlock's  Regiment,  which  had  likewise  been  made  prisoners.  This 
new  regiment  went  through  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  September  19  and  20,  1863;  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  November  23  and  25,  1863;  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Georgia  campaign, 
from  Dalton  to  the  fall  of  Atlanta;  on  Hood's  raid  through  Tennessee,  and  in  all  the  battles 
under  Joe  Johnston,  in  North  Carolina,  and  surrendered  with  him,  April  26,   1865. 

The  strength  of  the. regiment  at  organization  was  800  men;  at  the  surrender  300  or 
350.     Adjutant  A.  S.  Hutchinson  eventually  became  Colonel  of  the  regiment. 

That  portion  of  the  original  Nineteenth  which  was  not  captured,  was  consolidated 
with  a  portion  of  a  regiment  which  had  been  commanded  by  Colonel  Thomas  P.  Dockery. 
The  regiment  thus  formed  took  a  new  number. 

Thirtieth  (Hart's)  Infantry  Regiment — Afterwards  Rogan's  Thirtieth;  Robert  A 
Hart,  Colonel;    Jos.  C.   Martin,  Major;    Jas.  W.   Rogan,   Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Thirtieth  (McNeil's)  Fifth  Trans-Mississippi — Afterwards  Hart's  Thirtieth  Infantry 
Regiment:  Gaston  W.  Baldwin,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Robert  A.  Hart,  Lieutenant-Colonel; 
Jos.  C.  Martin,  Major;    A.  J.  McNeill,  Colonel;   Jas.  W.  Rogan,  Major,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

This  regiment  was  in  battles  at  Farmington,  Mississippi,  May  9,  1862,  and  Richmond. 
Kentucky,  but  records  are  not  complete  as  to  other  engagements. 

A.  T.  Ellis, 
Editor,  the  Arkansas  Homestead,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  6th  Regiment  of   Kentucky  Volunteers. 
Captured  at  the  Battle  of  Jonesboro,  Sept.  1,  1864. 


Kentucky. 


It  was  believed,  at  the  commencement  of  the  great  Civil  strife,  notwithstanding  the 
neutrality  declaration,  that  Kentucky  would  constitute  the  battle  ground  of  the  contending 
armies  and  many  were  the  convictions  that  they  would  be  needed  at  home  and  that  it  was 
unnecessary  for  even  the  most  sanguinary  to  hunt  for  earlier  opportunities  to  shed  his 
blood  than  would  be  furnished  in  due  course  of  time,  ready-made  to  hand. 

Consequently  camps  were  established  contiguous  to  Kentucky  and  the  work  of 
recruiting  troops  for  the  Southern  army  was  commenced.  Some  of  the  most  wealthy  and 
influential  citizens  of  the  State  spent  freely  for  transportation  and  supplies  and  aided  in 
every  laudable  way  the  effect  to  recruit  troops  for  the  Southern  cause. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1861,  Col.  Joseph  H.  Lewis,  of  Glasgow,  Ky.,  established 
a  Camp  at  Cave  City,  a  few  miles  from  Glasgow,  in  Barren  County,  Ky. ;  Col.  Martin  H. 
Cofer,  also  had  authority  to  organize  a  battalion  in  connection  with  Major  Thomas  H. 
Hays  (then  Captain  of  a  Company  of  Kentucky  State  Guard).  Col.  Lewis  and  Col.  Cofer, 
finding  that  they  could  not  succeed  in  recruiting  either  two  full  regiments  or  battalions 
in  time  for  the  active  operations  which  were  now  being  inaugurated,  agreed,  after  con- 
sultation with  the  officers,  and  through  them  with  the  men  of  the  several  companies,  to 
unite  the  two  battalions  in  process  of  formation,  and  organize  a  single  regiment.  Early 
in  November,  the  tents  were  pitched  together,  and  on  the  19th  of  that  month  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Sixth  Regiment  took  place.  * 

Joseph  H.  Lewis  was  elected  Colonel,  Martin  H.  Cofer,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Thomas 
H.  Hays,  Major.  On  September  30,  1863,  Col.  Lewis  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General,   and  Lieut. -Col.  Cofer  succeeded  to  the  Colonelcy 


The  regiment  was  composed  of  ten  companies  of  from  seventy  to  eighty-five  strong. 
In  addition  to  the  ten  companies  first  enrolled,  a  company  stationed  at  Hopkinsville,  Ky., 
commanded  by  Capt.  McKinney,  of  Logan  County,  Ky.,  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston,  on  November  25th,  to  report  to  Col.  Lewis,  as  on  detached  service,  but  to  be 
incorporated  with  the  Sixth  Infantry.  It  was  accordingly  entered  upon  the  records  as 
"Co.  L."  When  re-enforcements  were  sent  to  Donelson,  this  company  was  sent  forward 
to  report  at  that  point  and  fought  there  with  the  Eighth  Kentucky  Infantry  It  was  sur- 
rendered with  the  other  companies  of  that  command;  and  though  Col.  Lewis  made  an 
effort,  after  it  was  exchanged,  to  have  it  report  to  him,  it  was  never  with  the  Sixth  Regiment 
and  soon  ceased  to  be  considered  a  part  of  it. 

This  regiment  was  a  part  of  the  famous  First  Kentucky  Brigade,  better  known  as  the 
"Orphan  Brigade,"  and  this  fact  alone,  to  those  who  know  the  fighting  record  of  the 
"Orphans,"  is  evidence  that  the  men  of  the  Sixth  saw  hard  service.  The  "Orphans  Brigade" 
was  composed  of  the  Second  Kentucky  Infantry;  Fourth  Kentucky  Infantry;  Fifth  Ken- 
tucky Infantry;  Sixth  Kentucky  Infantry;  Ninth  Kentucky  Infantry;  Byrne's,  Graves' 
and  Cobb's  Kentucky  Batteries,  and  the  First  Kentucky  Cavalry  was  also  attached  to 
this  Brigade,  and  the  men  of  this  regiment  were  designated  "adopted  orphans". 

The  "Orphan  Brigade"  was  known  as  one  of  the  finest  brigades  in  either  army.  The 
following  extract  from  an  article  by  Prof.  N.  S.  Shaler,  a  strong  Union  man,  published  in 
Scribner's  Magazine  (1890)  will  show  something  of  the  brigade's  standing  among  those 
who  had  followed  its  career:  *  *  "Some  years  ago  I  sought  carefully  to  find  a  body  of 
troops  whose  ancestors  had  been  for  many  generations  upon  our  soil,  and  whose  ranks 
were  essentially  unmixed  with  foreigners,  or  those  whose  forefathers  had  been  but  a  short 
time  upon  this  continent.  It  proved  difficult  to  find  in  the  Northern  armies  any  command 
which  served  the  needs  of  the  inquiry  which  I  desired  to  make.  It  seemed  necessary 
to  consider  a  force  of  at  least  five  thousand  men  in  order  to  avoid  the  risks  which  would 
come  from  imperfect  data.  In  our  Federal  army  it  was  the  custom  to  put  in  the  same 
brigade  regiments  from  different  districts,  thus  commingling  commands  of  pure  American 
blood  with  those  that  had  a  considerable  percentage  of  foreigners  or  men  of  foreign  parents. 
I  found  in  my  inquiry  but  one  command  that  satisfied  the  need  of  this  investigation,  and 
this  was  the  First  Brigade  of  Kentucky  troops,  in  the  rebel  army."     *     * 

When  first  recruited,  this  brigade  contained  about  5000  men.  From  the  beginning 
it  proved  as  trustworthy  a  body  of  infantry  as  ever  marched  or  stood  in  line  of  battle. 
Its  military  record  is  too  long,  too  varied,  to  even  be  summarized  here.  I  will  note  only 
one  hundred  and  twenty  (120)  days  of  its  history  in  the  closing  stages  of  its  service.  On 
May  7,  1864,  this  brigade,  then  in  the  army  of  Gen.  Jos.  E.  Johnston,  marched  out  of  Dalton, 
Ga.,  1140  strong,  at  the  beginning  of  the  great  retreat  upon  Atlanta  before  the  army  of 
Sherman.  In  the  subsequent  one  hundred  and  twenty  days,  or  until  September  3rd,  the 
brigade  was  almost  continuously  in  action  or  on  the  march.  In  this  period  the  men  of  the 
command  received  1260  death  or  hospital  wounds,  the  dead  counted  as  wounds,  and  but 
one  wound  being  counted  for  each  visitation  of  the  hospital.  At  the  end  of  this  time  there 
were  less  than  fifty  men  who  had  not  been  wounded  during  the  one  hundred  and  twenty 
days.     There  were  two  hundred  and  forty  men  left  for  duty,  and  less  than  ten  men  deserted. 

A  search  into  the  history  of  warlike  exploits  has  failed  to  show  me  any  endurance 
to  the  worst  trials  of  war  surpassing  this.  We  must  remember  that  the  men  of  this  com- 
mand were  at  each  stage  of  their  retreat  going  farther  from  their  firesides.  It  is  easy  for 
men  to  bear  great  trials  under  circumstances  of  victory.  Soldiers  of  ordinary  goodness 
will  stand  severe  defeats,  but  to  endure  the  despair  which  such  adverse  conditions  bring 
for  more  than  a  hundred  days  demands  a  moral  and  physical  patience,  which,  so  far  as  I 
have  learned,  has  never  been  excelled  in  any  arm}'. 

Gen.  Jos.  E.  Johnston,  a  trained  West  Pointer,  a  veteran  of  two  wars  and  a  native  of 
another  State,  speaking  of  the  "Orphan  Brigade"  said  that  they  were  the  finest  body  of 
men  and  soldiers  he  ever  saw  in  any  army  anywhere. 

One  of  the  prominent  Southern  journals,  referring  to  Gen.  Hood's  defeat  at  Nashville, 
had  this  remark:  "A  correspondent  of  one  of  our  exchanges  writes  of  the  unfortunate 
disaster  at  Nashville,  and  incidentally  pays  the  highest  compliment  to  Lewis'  Brigade, 
then  absent,  which  was  never  known  to  falter." 

The  "Mobile  Advertiser  and  Register"  speaking  of  a  certain  point  of  Hood's  defense, 
on  the  same  occasion,  remarks:  "Troops  should  have  been  placed  at  that  point  of  whom 
not  the  slightest  doubt  existed.  Had  the  Kentucky  Brigade  been  there,  all  would  have 
been  safe." 

When  a  large  portion  of  the  Brigade,  including  the  Sixth  Infantry  were  captured  at 
Jonesboro  they  were  assured  by  Gen.  Davis,  Commanding  the  Federal  troops,  that  they 
would  be  treated  with  the  utmost  courtesy,  and  no  insult  was  offered  them  by  any  of  the 
Federal  soldiers,  nor  were  they  deprived  of  their  watches  and  other  private  property  as 
was  the  custom 


Since  the  close  of  the  war  the  following  members  of  the  Sixth  Infantry  have  been 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  State  of  Nations :  General,  formerly  Colonel,  Lewis,  was  a 
lawyer  of  note  and  served  for  years  as  a  Judge  of  the  Kentucky  Supreme  Court.  He  was 
noted  for  his  impartiality  to  all  who  had  dealings  with  him  as  an  attorney,  Judge  or  private 
citizen ;  Col.  Cofer  was  elected  as  Judge  of  the  Kentucky  Supreme  Court  but  died  before 
the  end  of  his  term;  A.  M.  Adair,  was  a  successful  lawyer  and  held  State  and  Count}'  offices; 
S.  H.  Bush,  prominent  lawyer;  John  T.  Craycroft,  U.  S.  Revenue  Officer;  Capt.  Jno. 
Davis,  State  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  U.  S.  Revenue  Officer,  etc. ;  Charles  Dawson, 
Sheriff  of  Nelson  County;  Alec  V.  Duncan,  and  Thos.  G.  Duncan,  both  successful  practicing 
physicians  and  business  men  in  Texas;  W.  W.  Franklin,  physician,  and  for  years  Clerk  of 
Barren  County  Court;  Amos  Fox,  prominent  citizen  and  business  man  of  Atlanta,  Ga. ; 
Capt.  Richard  P.  Finn,  Educator,  member  of  Legislature;  Thos.  M.  Goodknight,  lawyer, 
Supt.  of  Schools  of  Simpson  County,  Postmaster  of  Franklin,  Ky.,  Chief  Clerk  State  Depart- 
ment of  Education ;  Virgil  Hewitt,  Chief  Clerk  of  State  Insurance  Bureau,  for  years  Assistant 
Auditor  of  State;  A.  L.  Harned,  member  of  Legislature;  W.  S.  B.  Hill,  U.  S.  Revenue 
Officer,  for  years  an  officer  of  the  Court  of  Appeals;  Helm  Hobbs,  U.  S.  Revenue  Officer; 
Jas.  A.  Hindman,  member  of  Legislature;  Alex  Lawson,  U.  S.  Revenue  Officer;  Jas.  M. 
Lee,  member  of  Legislature;  Maj.  Geo.  W.  Maxson,  for  years  an  educator  and  "leading 
Presbyterian  minister  in  the  South;  Lewis  McQuown,  prominent  lawyer;  Wm.  L.  Mudd, 
prominent  lawyer;  J.  R.  Nantz,  Postmaster  of  Hodgenville,  Ky.,  A.  W.  Randolph,  City- 
Engineer  of  Louisville,  for  some  years,  for  sixteen  years  County  Suveyor  of  Jefferson  County ; 
Wm.  H.  Read,  for  years  Clerk  of  Allen  County  Court;  Jas.  S.  Roby,  member  of  Legislature ; 
Capt.  Noah  Smith,  Judge  Barren  County  Court;  Jas.  A.  Smith,  Postmaster  of  Glasgow, 
Ky. ;  Capt.  William  Stanley,  lawyer,  but  almost  ever  since  was  one  of  the  leading  ministers 
of  the  Christian  Church;  Pat  Simms,  U.  S.  Revenue  Officer;  Jno.  L.  Stout,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  prominent  business  man;  Elliott  W.  Thompson,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  member  of 
Legislature,  for  years  Assessor  of  Livingston  County,  Mo. ;  Ed.  Porter  Thompson,  State 
Librarian,  private  Secretary  to  Governor  Buckner,  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction, 
Custodian  of  Public  Buildings  and  Compiler  of  Confederate  Records  until  his  death;  Geo. 
W.  Wells,  U.  S.  Revenue  Officer;  Smith  E.  Winn,  prominent  physician  and  business  man 
of  California.  There  are  many  others  who  have  made  excellent  citizens  of  our  State  too 
numerous  to  mention  here. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1905,  the  Secretary  of  War  had  the  old  regimental  flag  of  the 
Sixth  Infantry  returned  to  the  Governor  of  this  State.  This  flag  was  returned  in  accordance 
with  an  Act  of  Congress  entitled  a  "Joint  resolution  to  return  to  the  proper  authorities 
certain  Union  and  Confederate  battle  flags." 

This  old  flag,  a  reproduction  in  colors  of  which  is  given  above,  is  made  of  red  and  blue 
flannel,  the  cross  bars  of  white  linen.  It  is  mounted  on  a  hickory  limb  about  five  or  six 
feet  in  length.  Printed  across  the  face  of  the  flag  are  the  names  of  the  following  battle- 
fields:   Shiloh,   Vicksburg,   Baton  Rouge,   Chickamauga,   Murfreesboro. 

This  flag  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Sept.  1,  1864,  by  the  Tenth  Michigan 
Veteran  Infantry. 

Gov.  Beckham  has  turned  the  flag  over  to  the  Kentucky  Historical  Society  and  it  has 
been  placed  in  the  room  of  this  Society  where  it  will  be  carefully  preserved. 

Ed.  Porter  Thompson,  Jr., 

Compiler  Confederate  Records,  State  of  Kentucky. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  48th  Mississippi  Regiment. 
Date  of  capture  not  obtainable. 


M 


ississippi. 

Owing  to  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  a  full  history  of  the  flags  returned  to 
the  State  of  Mississippi,  only  a  brief  record  of  the  flags  reproduced  is  here  given. 

Nineteen  Confederate  battle  flags  have  been  returned  to  the  State  of  Mississippi  by 
the  War  Department,  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  resolution  of  Congress,  and  arc 
deposited  in  the  Department  of  Archives  and  History  where  they  will  be  permanently 
preserved. 

Among  the  most  famous  of  these  flags  are  the  Second,  Eighteenth  and  Forty-eighth 
Infantry,  all  of  which  belonged  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  They  represent  the 
regulation  battle  flag  of  the  Confederacy,  and  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  when  the 
rough  usage  to  which  they  have  been  subjected  is  considered. 

The  battle  flag  of  the  Second  Mississippi  Regiment  was  captured  at  Gettysburg,  and 
has  inscribed  on  its  folds  the  names  of  the  important  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was 
engaged,  namely:  Gaines'  Farm,  Malvern  Hill,  Manassas  and  Seven  Pints.  This  regiment 
was  commanded  by  Colonels  John  A.  Blair  and  Bently  B.  Boon;  Lieut. -Col.  David  W. 
Humphreys  and  Lieut. -Col.  John  M.  Buchanan. 

The  battle  flag  of  the  Eighteenth  Mississippi  Regiment  is  in  a'good  state  of  preserva- 
tion. It  was  captured  at  Fredericksburg,  on  the  5th  day  of  May,  1S63.  This  famous 
regiment  took  part  in  all  the  great  battles  in  which  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was 
engaged,  and  was  commanded  by  Col.  E.  R.  Burt  and  Col,  Thomas  M.  Griffin;  Lieut.-Col. 
W.  H.  Luse  and  Lieut. -Col.  Walter  G.  Kearney;  Major  J.  W.  Balfour,  Maj'>r  G.  B.  Gerald 
and  Major  E.  G.  Henry. 

The  battle  flag  of  the  Forty-eighth  Mississippi  Regiment  is  full  of  bullet  holes  and  is 
more  tattered  and  faded  than  the  others.  This  celebrated  regiment  took  part  in  tin 
following  battles,  the  names  of  which  almost  cover  the  folds  of  the  flag:  Vorktown,  Williams- 
burg, Seven  Pines,  Beaver  Dam,  Gains  Mills,  Frazicr's  Farm,  Second  Manassas.  Sharpsbury. 
Harper's  Ferry,  Bristow  Station,  Gettysburg,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Deep 
Run.  This  regiment  was  commanded  by  Joseph  M.  Jayne,  Colonel:  Thomas  B.  Manlove, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,    and  L.  C.  Lee,  Major. 

In  the  collection  will  be  found  the  Eleventh,  Fifteenth,  two  of  the  Twelfth,  Thirty- 
third,  Nineteenth,  Sixteenth,  Seventeenth,  Eighteenth.  Sixth,  Wigfall  Rifles.  Fourth. 
Sweets  Battery,  First,  Forty-second  and  Forty-fourth.  Many  of  them  are  still  on  their 
original  staffs;    others  are  attached  to  rude  poles. 

Dun  BAB   Rowland, 

Stale  Archivest,    [ackson,  Miss. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  2nd  Mississippi  Regiment. 
Captured  at  Gettysburg. 


Battle  Flag  of  the   18th  Mississippi  Regiment. 
Captured  at  Fredericksburg,   May  5,   1863. 


Flag  of  Hood's  Texas  Brigade. 
Date  of  capture  unknown. 


exas. 


Brief  history  of  the  Confederate  Battle  Flags  recently  returned  by  the 
Secretary  of  War  to  the  Governor  of  Texas. 

The  Flag  of  the  First  Texas  Infantry  Regiment.  It  was  captured  in  the  battle  of 
Appomattox,   April  8,    1865. 

Flag  of  Hood's  Texas  Brigade.  The  lower  half  of  this  flag  is  frazzled  and  tattered. 
It  is  a  Texas  flag  in  design,  and  inscribed  upon  it  are  the  words  "Seven  Pines,"  "Malvern 
Hill"  and  "Gaines  Farm." 

The  Flag  of  the  Third  Texas  Cavalry  Regiment.  It  was  captured  in  Georgia,  August 
20,  1S64.  Upon  it  is  inscribed  "Oak  Hill,"  "Holly  Springs,"  "Hatchie  Bridge,"  and 
"Thompson's   Station." 

Unknown  Flag.  It  was  captured  September  17,  1862,  It  is  evidently  the  flag  of 
a  Texas  Brigade,  but  cannot  be  identified  by  the  public  record  or  by  private  inquiry. 

All  these  old  flags  arc  tattered,  battle  scarred  and  bullet  riddled,  but  the  colors  are 
as  bright  as  the  day  upon  which  they  were  first  unfurled. 

Harry  Haynes, 

Austin   Statesman,  Austin,  Texas. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  ist  Texas  Infantry  Regiment. 
Captured  in  the  Battle  of  Appomattox,  April  8,  I860. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  3rd  Texas  Cavalry  Regiment. 
Captured  in  Georgia,  August  20,  1864. 


Unknown  Flag  of  a  Texas  Brigade. 
Captured  Sept.   17,   1862. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  4th  Virginia  Infantry. 

Captuied  in   the    Battle  of    the  Wilderness.  Mav  12th,   1S64      This  regiment 

belonged  to  the  famous  "Stonewall  Brigade." 


Battle  Flag  of  the  2nd  Virginia  Infantry. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  capture  of  this  flag,  but  its  condition  plainly  indicates 

the  terrific  conflicts  through  which  it   passed. 


Flags  of  Virginia. 


The  return  of  the  battle  flags  to  the  Southern  States  by  the  Federal  Government  has 
been  hailed  with  great  joy  by  the  old  heroes  who  wore  the  gray,  and  these  tattered  emblems 
of  more  strenuous  days  are  highly  prized  by  those  who  followed  them  so  devotedly  on  so 
m.iny  fields 

The  Virginia  flags  returned,  are  carefully  stored  away  in  the  Confederate  Museum, 
which  was  the  home  of  President  Davis,  during  the  Civil  War.  They  were  shipped  from 
the  War  Department,  each  carefully  wrapped  in  a  separate  package.  The  box  also  contained 
a  number  of  flags  on  the  poles  on  which  they  were  originally  used  during  the  war.  The 
box  was  placed  in  the  Museum,  pending  the  final  decision  of  Governor  Montague  as  to 
what  disposition  he  will  make  of  the  valued  relics,  but  it  is  thought  the  Governor  will 
determine  to  allow  them  to  remain  where  they  are. 

The  flags  returned  to  Virginia  are  indeed  interesting.  There  is,  for  instance,  a  flag 
of  the  state,  made  of  fine  blue  silk,  which  saw  service  all  through  the  war,  and  which  was 
presented  by  the  ladies  of  Bath  County.     "God    Protect  the  Right"  is  the   inscription. 

Another  flag  of  great  interest  and  historic  value,  is  that  of  the  Second  Virginia  Infantry. 
This  old  relic  werft  nearly  all  through  the  war,  and  is  now  but  a  mere  fragment,  having 
been  torn  almost  into  shreds  by  Federal  bullets.  A  picture  of  this  is  shown  above,  and 
one  has  but  to  look  upon  it  to  appreciate  the  service  it  has  seen. 

The  Fourth  Infantry  Flag.  It  was  in  all  the  big  battles  of  the  famous  "Stonewall 
Brigade",  and  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  12,  1864.  It  bears  an 
inscription  "Rebel  Battle  Flag",  showing  also  the  date  of  its  capture.  Upon  the  flag  is 
lettered  the  names  of  the  battles  through  which  it  passed.  These  include  First  and  Second 
Manassas,  Winchester,  Kearnstown,  Harper's  Ferry,  Cold  Harbor,  Chancellorsville  and 
Gettysburg. 


The  flag  of  the  Forty-seventh  Virginia  Infantry  is  among  the  very  interesting  ones. 
It  was  captured  by  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  at  the  battle  of  Falling  Waters. 

The  Ninth  and  Forty-eighth  Virginia  Infantry  flags  are  both  interesting  and  are  highly 
prized  by  the  old  veterans. 

The  Joint  Resolution  under  which  the  flags  were  returned,  was  offered  in  the  House 
by  Congressman  John  Lamb,  of  Richmond,  himself  a  gallant  officer  in  the  Third  Cavalry, 
and  his  old  battle  flag  is  distinguished  among  those  returned. 

Captain  Lamb  also  drew  and  offered  the  report  which  was  adopted  along  with  the 
resolution.  .  • 

Only  one-fourth  of  the  flag  of  the  Tenth  Virginia  Infantry  is  left  to  tell  the  story 
of  the  thrillling  battles  through  which  it  passed.  It  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Sailor's 
Creek,  April  6,  1865,  only  a  few  days  before  the  surrender  of  General  Lee's  Army  at 
Appomattox  C.  H.  The  Tenth  Virginia  Infantry  was  a  regiment  of  striking  gallantry, 
and  many  of  its  members  laid  down  their  lives  on  the  field  where  their  flag  was  captured. 

We  give  a  reproduction  of  Gen.  Jubal  A.  Early's  headquarter's  flag.  Though  soiled 
and  bedraggled  by  rain,  it  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  It  was  the  marker  for  the  old 
hero's  forces  in  all  his  engagements  both  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  and  elsewhere,  and  was 
carried  at  the  head  of  his  army  until  the  end  came.  It  was  with  him  in  Pennsylvania, 
as  well  as  in  all  his  other  engagements  throughout  the  war. 

Unknown  Flag  of  Pickett's  Corps.  This  flag  was  in  the  major  portion  of  the  greatest 
battles  fought  by  the  gallant  Gen.  George  E.  Pickett.  It  is  designated  as  having  belonged 
to  "Pickett's  Corps",  and  this  of  itself  is  sufficient  to  mark  it  at  once  as  an  emblem  of  great 
historic  value.  There  is  no  data  at  hand  to  show  where  this  flag  was  captured,  though  it 
is  evident  it  waved  in  the  forefront  of  man)'  fiery  engagements. 

The  flag  of  the  Thirteenth  Virginia  Cavalry  is  one  around  which  thrilling  memories 
cluster.  It  was  in  many  engagements  both  in  and  out  of  Virginia,  and  after  having  been 
borne  gallantly  on  many  victorious  fields,  was  captured  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  in  July,  1863. 
The  Thirteenth  Virginia  Cavalry  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  of  all  the  mounted  regiments 
that  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy  from  Virginia. 

Thirty-seventh  Virginia  Cavalry.  This  is  evidently  a  flag  with  an  interesting  and 
thrilling  history.  It  is  battle  scarred  and  shot  and  torn  into  shreds.  It  is  officially  desig- 
nated as  the  flag  of  "Dunn's  Battalion,  Thirty-seventh  Virginia  Cavalry".  It  was  in  many 
of  the  most  striking  engagements  of  the  Valley  campaigns  and  was  captured  in  Luray 
(Va.)  Valle)',  October  26th,  1S64,  by  the  Fourteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  The  flag  is 
quite  highly  prized  and  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  all  those  returned  to  Virginia. 

Flag  of  the  Engineering  Corps,  Lee's  Army.  This  flag  is  of  striking  appearance  and 
it  saw  service  all  through  the  war,  having  been  carried  at  the  head  of  the  Engineering 
Corps  in  blazing  the  way  for  some  of  the  most  historic  battles  of  the  entire  struggle. 
The  flag  is  of  extra  large  size,  and  is  made  of  red  material,  the  lettering  being  white,  and 
perfectly  distinct.  It  has  also  a  white  border  on  the  side  where  it  was  attached  to  the 
pole.     There  is  no  data  to  show  whether  it  was  captured  or    simply  turned  over    to  the 

C.  A.   Boyce, 

Times-Dispatch.    Richmond.   Va. 


Unitnown  Battle  Flag  of 

Pickett's  Corps. 
No  date  of  capture  given 


General  Jubal  A.  Early's  Headquarters  Flag. 
No  record  of  when  captured. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  gth  Virginia  Infantry. 
There  is  no  date  of  the  capture  of  this  fla^. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  47th  Virginia  Infantry. 
Captured  in  the  Battle  of  Falling  Waters. 


Battle  Flag  of  Dunn's  Battalion,  37th  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Captured  in  Luray  (Va.),  "Valley,  Oct.  26th,  1864. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  48th  Virginia  Infantry. 
There  is  no  date  of   the    capture  of   this  flag. 


Company  Flag. 
Carried  by  a  company  raised  in  Bath  County.  Virginia. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  16th  South  Carolina  Volunteers. 
Captured  at  Five  Forks,  Va.,  April  7,  1865. 


Fort  Ripley  S.  C,  Garrison  Flag. 
No  record  of  capture. 


South  Carolina. 


Owing  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  Confederate  battle  flags,  returned  to 
the  States,  were  received  so  very  late,  and  there  being  no  r2cords  at  the  State 
Capitols  of  the  regiments  that  bore  the  flags,  it  has  been  impossible  to  secure 
information  from  members  of  the  regiments  which  carried  the  flags,  and  give 
full  histories  of  them.  Particularly  is  this  the  case  with  South  Carolina  flags, 
and  below  we  give  only  a  very  short  history  of  a  few  of  the  South  Carolina  flags 
which  are  reproduced  in  this  souvenir. 

Until  there  is  some  expression  from  the  Confederate  Veterans  Association  of  the  State, 
the  battle  flags  captured  during  the  war,  and  recently  returned  to  the  State  by  the  War 
Department,  arc  in  the  keeping  of  the  ladies  in  charge  of  the  State  Relic  Room  in  the 
Capitol  building. 

Writing  to  Governor  Heyward,  under  date  of  March  25,  1905.  Secretary  of  War  Taft, 
said: 

"I  have  the  honor  to  advise  you  that,  under  authority  conferred  upon  the  Secretary 
of  War  by  the  joint  resolution  of  Congress  approved  February  28,  1905,  entitled  'A  Joint 
Resolution  to  return  to  the  proper  authorities  certain  Union  and  Confederate  battle  flags, ' 
I  have  caused  to  be  forwarded  to  you  to-day  by  express  all  the  Confederate  battle  flags 
that  were  in  the  custody  of  the  War  Department  at  the  time  of  the  approval  of  said  joint 
resolution,  and  that  could  be  identified  as  belonging  to  your  State  or  as  having  been  borne 
by  military  organizations  thereof. 

"A  few  of  the  flags  that  were  described  in  executive  document  Xo.  163,  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, Fiftieth  Congress  cannot  now  be  identified.  Their  numbers  or  distinguishing 
marks  have  been  lost,  and  a  few  of  the  flags  that  could  not  be  identified  in  1868  have  since 
been  identified  and  are  now  returned  to  the  states  to  which  the  organizations  which  bore 
them  belonged." 

This  "Executive  Document"  described  other  South  Carolina  flags  that  were  captured 
but  Secretary  Taft  makes  no  mention  of  what  disposition  has  been  made  of  them. 

A  list  of  the  flags  returned  follows:- 

Eighth  Regiment  Infantry.  Fort  Moultrie  garrison  flag. 

Eleventh  Regiment  Infantry.  Citadel  garrison  flag. 

Sixteenth  Regiment  Infantry.  Sccessionville  (James  Island)  garrison  flag 

Twenty-seventh  Regiment  Infantry.  Fort  Ripley  garrison  flag. 

Castle  Pinckney  garrison  flag.  Three  Regimental  flags,  unidentified. 

The  only  history  available,  of  the  several  flags  returned,  is  the  following: 

Eighth  South  Carolina  Infantry  Flag,  captured  Septempber  13,   1864. 

Flag  of  Eleventh  South  Carolina  Volunteers,  inscribed:  "Port  Royal,  Cedar  Creek, 
Swift  Creek,  Petersburg,  June  24,  Weldon  Railroad." 

Flag  of  the  Sixteenth  South  Carolina  Volunteers,  was  captured  during  the  engagement 
of  April  7,  1865,  at  Five  Forks,  Va. 

Battle  Flag  of  the  Twenty-seventh  South  Carolina  Regiment. 

Flag  of  Sumter  Heavy  Artillery,  captured  in  the  battle  of  Sailor's  Creek,  April  6,  1865. 

Garrison  Flag  of  Secessionville,  defense  of  Charleston,  captured  February,  1865. 

Garrison  Flag  of  Citadel,  Charleston,   S.  C,  captured '  February   18,    1865. 

Garrison  Flag  of  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston  Harbor,  captured  February  18,   1865. 

W.  H.  McCaw, 

Columbia,   S.   C. 


Garrison  Flag  of  Castle 

Pinckney,  S.  C. 
No  record  of  capture. 


Garrison  Flag  of  the  Citadel,  Charleston,  S.  C. 
Captured  Feb.   ISth.  1865. 


Flag  of  the  1st  Tennessee  Battalion. 
Captured  at  the  Battle  of  Chickahominy,  July  27th.   1862. 


Returned  Tennessee  Confederate  Flags. 


■  The  following  brief  information  in  regard  to  the  Tennessee  Regiments, 
whose  Battle  Flags  were  returned  by  the  U.  S.  Government,  is  all  that  it  was 
possible  to  obtain  in  regard  to  them  from  the  archives  on  file  at  Nashville. 


First  Tennessee  Confederate  Regiment  Battle  Flag.  It  has  this  inscription,  "Con- 
federate Battle  Flag  of  the  First  Tennessee  Regiment,  captured  at  the  Battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, July  3,  1863."  The  battles  inscribed  on  it  are,  "Cold  Harbor,"  "Seven  Pines,' 
"Mechanicsville,"  "Frazier's  Farm,"  "Cedar  Run,"  "Ox  Hill,"  "Harpers  Ferry,"  "Sharpes- 
burg,"    " Shepherdstown, "    "Fredericksburg"   and   " Chancellors ville." 

Col.  Peter  Turney,  the  Commander  of  this  Regiment,  was  badly  wounded  at  the  Battle 
of  Fredericksburg. 

The  Flag  of  the  First  Tennessee  Battalion,  bears  inscription:  "Captured  at  the  Battle 
of  Chickahominy,  July  27,   1862." 

The   Sixth  Tennessee   Infantry.     This  Flag  is  inscribed:     "Captured  at  Sailors  Creek, 
April  1st,  1865."     The  battles  in  which  this  regiment  was  engaged,  were  Belmont,  Shiloh 
Perryyille,  Murfreesboro,  Tullahoma,  Chickamauga,  Cat  Creek,  Dalton,  Resaca,  Kennesaw, 
Dead  Angle,  Peachtree  Creek,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Franklin,  Nashville,  Missionary  Ridge 
and  Bentonville. 

'Geo.  C.  Porter,  was  Colonel,  W.  H.  Jones,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  J.  L.  Harris,  Major. 


Flag  of  the  2nd  Regiment  East  Tennessee  Volunteers. 
No  record  of  capture 


"Colors  of  the  Seventh  Tennessee  Regiment."  This  was  General  Robert  Hatton's 
old  Regiment.      He  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines. 

Fourteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  Battle  Flag,  captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863. 
The  battles  in  which  this  regiment  was  engaged  were,  "Seven  Pines,  Mcehanicsville,  Cold 
Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas,"  Ox  Hill,  Harpers  Ferry,  Sharpesburg, 
Shepherdstown,  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville." 

This  was  Col.  Forbes'  Regiment,  he  was  killed  at  the  second  battle  of  Manassas. 

The  Battle  Flag  of  the  Twenty-Third  Regiment,  Tennessee  Volunteers:  "Captured. 
2d   day   of  April,    1865." 

This  regiment  was  consolidated  with  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  which  was  commanded 
by  Col.   R.   H.   Keeble,   who  was  killed  at  Petersburg,  July  31,   1864. 

The  Flag  of  the  Forty-Fourth  Tennessee  Regiment:  "Captured,  17th  day  of  June. 
1864,  at  Petersburg,  Va."  The  battles  in  which  this  Regiment  was  engaged  were  Shiloli, 
Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  Hoover's  Gap,  Ringold,  Chickamauga,  Knoxville,  Beans  Station, 
Watthall  Junction,  Drury's  Bluff  and  Petersburg. 

Col.  John  S.  Fulton  commanded  the  regiment.  He  was  killed  on  the  30th  dav  of 
June,   1864. 

This  regiment  was  finally  consolidated  with  the  Twenty-Fifth  Tennessee,  commanded 
by  Col.  S.  S.  Stanton,  who  was  killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  in  1864. 

The  Second  Tennessee  Volunteer  Regiment  Flag.     This  must  have  been  the  Nineteenth 

Regiment,  Tennessee  Volunteers. 

Harvey  H.   Hannah, 

Adjutant   General,    State  of   Tennessee. 


6th  Tennessee  Regiment  Battle  Flag. 
Captured  at  Sailor's  Creek,   April    1,   1865. 


Flag  of  Unknown  Tennessee  Regiment. 
No  record  of  capture. 


Colors  of  Unknown  Regiment  of  Tennessee  Volunteers. 
No  record  of  capture. 


Battle  Flag  of  the   14th  Tennessee  Regiment 
Captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863. 


Battle     Flag    of    the    45th 
Georgia  Regiment. 

Captured    at   Appomattox 
C.  H.,  April  9.  1865. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  40th  Georgia  Infantry. 
Captured  at  Appomattox  C.  H.,  April  n.  1865. 


Confederate  Flags  of  Georgia. 

Photographs  of  twenty-seven  flags  returned  by  the  Government][to  the 
State  of  Georgia  were  received,  but  it  was  impossible  to  reproduce  more  than 
the  fifteen  shown  in  this  publication,  owing  to  the  shortness  of  time  before  the 
Re-union  at  Louisville.  The  history,  however,  of  all  of  the  flags  returned  to 
Georgia  is  given,  and  if  future  editions  of  this  publication  are  issued  the  other 
flags  will  be  reproduced. 

Flag  of  the  First  Georgia  Volunteer  Infantry.  This  Regiment,  commanded  by  Col. 
James  N  Ramsey,  enlisted  for  twelve  months,  and  organized  at  Maeon,  Ga.,  April  3,  1861; 
fought  in  West  Virginia  under  General  Robert  S.  Garnett,  taking  part  in  the  Laurel  Hill 
engagement,  and  the  fights  at  Garrick's  Fork,  Greenbrier  River  and  Cheat  Mountain. 

In  April,  1862,  this  regiment  having  served  its  period  of  enlistment  disbanded.  All 
the  companies  re-enlisted,  however;  four  Companies  forming  the  Twelfth  Georgia  Battalion 
of  Artillery.  Served  around  Charleston  and  in  the  Western  Army  until  June,  1864,  when  it 
was  armed  as  infantry  and  assigned  to  Gordon's  Georgia  Brigade,  with  which  it  served 
around  Richmond,  in  the  valley,  in  Early's  Maryland  campaign,  around  Petersburg  and 
surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

The  other  Companies  of  the  First  Regiment  served  in  other  commands  under  General 
Johnston  and  General  Hood  in  Tennessee,  Georgia,  and  on  to  Greensboro,  N.  C,  in  1S65. 

Flag  of  the  Seventh  Georgia  Cavalry.  This  Regiment  was  organized  >  in  the  early 
part  of  1863,  served  in  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  until  June,  1864,  when  it  joined  Hamp- 
ton's Cavalry  in  Virginia.  Took  part  in  the  battle  of  Trevillian  Station,  suffering  con- 
siderable loss,  but  helped  to  drive  Sheridan  back  to  the  Pamunky  and  defeating  his  efforts 
to  join  General  Hunter  in  his  raid  against  Lynchburg.   Va. 

This  Regiment  joined  in  the  fights  in  the  Valley  Campaign  in  1864,  where  Early's 
small  Command  was  overwhelmed  by   Sheridan. 

This  flag  is  one  of  the  latest  designs  adopted  by  the  Confederate  Government.  Very 
few  of  them  were  ever  used  by  the  Confederate  Troops  in  the  field.  It  was  captured  by 
Sheridan's  Cavalry,  in  October,   1864. 

Flag  of  the  Benjamin  Infantry.  This  Company  was  one  of  the  Companies  of  the  Tenth 
Georgia  Regiment,  and  this  flag  was  carried  to  the  army  when  the  Company  entered  the 
service.  When  the  regiment  was  organized,  and  regimental  colors  given  it,  this  flag  was 
sent  back  to  the  County  of  Clayton,  near  Atlanta,  and  was  put  away  in  a  bureau  drawer 
as  a  sacred  relic.  Some  soldier,  belonging  to  Sherman's  Army,  plundered  this  private 
residence  and  carried  off  the  old  flag,  Kilpatrick  having  raided  in  that  neighborhood  in 
August,  1864. 

Flag  of  the  Twelfth  Georgia  Regiment.  This  Regiment  was  first  Commanded  by  Col- 
onel Edward  Johnson,  and  became  famous  for  its  heroic  services  in  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia. When  its  Colonel  became  a  General,  it  was  commanded  by  another  hero,  Edward 
Willis,  and  then  another,  Isaac  Hardeman. 

It  became  part  of  Doles-Cook  Brigade  of  Rodes'  Division,  Jackson's  Corps,  taking 
part  in  all  the  battles  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 

But  the  flag,  purporting  to  be  the  flag  of  the  Twelfth  Georgia,  was  not  its  flag. 

Col.  James  G.  Lane,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Second  New  York  Regiment,  claimed  in 
his  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  that  his  Command  captured  twenty-three 
men  of  the  Twelfth  Georgia  Regiment,  including  the  Color  Bearer  and  his  battle  flag. 
Doubtless  this  New  York  Regiment  captured  some  prisoners  and  a  flag,  but  it  was  not  the 
Twelfth  Georgia's  Flag.  A  number  of  the  surviving  officers  and  men  of  this  most  gallant 
Regiment  assert  most  positively  that  their  colors  were  never  lost  in  battle,  either  at  Chan- 
cellorsville or  elsewhere  during  the  war. 

The  Regiment  was  a  part  of  General  Rodes 's  Division,  and  Gen.  Rodes  in  his  official 
report  of  Chancellorsville,  mentions  the  loss  of  three  battle  flags  by  his  Division.  They 
were  those  of  the  Fifth  Alabama,  and  the  Second  and  Fourth  Regiments  of  North  Carolina 
Troops.  The  Twelfth  Georgia  flag  was  not  captured  at  this  place,  and  was  never  in  any 
danger  of  being  lost. 

Fourteenth  Georgia  Flag.  The  Fourteenth  Georgia  Regiment  was  one  of  the  Regi- 
ments of  General  E.  L.  Thomas's  Georgia  Brigade,  A.  P.  Hill's  Division  of  Jackson's  (2d) 
Corps,  afterwards  made  a  part  of  Third  Corps,  General  A.  P.  Hill,  commanding. 

It  participated  in  nearly  all  the  battles  in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  and 
surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

General  A.  V.  Brumby  was  the  first  Colonel,  succeeded  by  Colonels  Felix  Price,  Robert 
W.  Folsom  and  R.  P.  Lester,  in  order  named. 

The  flag  was  probably  among  those  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 


\0& 


Battle  Flag  of  the  44th  Georgia  Regiment. 

Captured  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  May  10, 1864 


n  Infantry,  a  Company  of  the  10th  Georgia  Regiment. 

Captured  in  August,  1864. 


Fifteenth  Georgia  Regiment  Flag.  The  Fifteenth  Georgia  was  one  of  the  Regiments 
of  General  Robert  Toombs's  Georgia  Brigade.  After  Gen.  Toombs's  retirement  to  other 
fields  of  duty,  the  Brigade  was  commanded  by  General  Henry  L.  Benning,  known  by  the 
troops  as  "Old  Rock,"  companion  Brigade  to  General  G.  T.  Anderson,  known  as  "Old 
Tige."  "Hurry  up,  Tige,  Old  Rock  has  Treed,"  was  the  trooper's  way  of  indicating  that 
the  latter  had  located  the  enemy  and  needed  help. 

This  Regiment  was  one  of  the  best  in  Longstreet's  Corps,  and  fought  in  the  battles 
in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  and  at  Chickamauga  and  Knoxville.  It  sur- 
rendered with  Lee  at  Appomattox.  Col.  Thos.  W.  Thomas  was  First  Colonel,  and  Judge 
Linton  Stephens,  brother  of  Alexander  H.   Stephens,  was  Lieut.  -Colonel. 

This  Regiment's  flag  was  lost  at  the  "Devil's  Den,"  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July,  1863. 

Sixteenth  Georgia  Regiment  Flag.  The  Sixteenth  Georgia  was  originally  commanded 
by  Colonel  (afterwards  General)  Howell  Cobb,  one  of  Georgia's  most    distinguished  men. 

He  had  been  a  member  of  Congress,  Governor  of  Georgia,  Speaker  of  Federal  House 
of  Representatives,  and  member  of  President  James  Buchanan's  Cabinet.  He  commanded 
a  Brigade  at  Crampton's  Gap,  Md.,  where  his  command  was  assailed  and  overwhelmed  by 
several  Brigades  of  McClellan's  Army. 

The  Regiment  was  afterward  one  of  Wofford's  Georgia  Brigade,  and  fought  gloriously 
at  Gettysburg,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  around  Richmond,  Chancellorsville  and  other 
battles,  and  surrendered  at  Appomattox,  crowned  with  glory  although  numbered  among 
the  vanquished. 

Flag  of  the  Eighteenth  Georgia  Regiment;  known  also  as  the  "Third  Texas,"  by 
the  Texas  Regiments  of  Hood's  Old  Brigade  to  which  it  belonged  until  1863,  when  it  was 
Brigaded  with  other  Georgia  Regiments  under  General  W.  T.  Wofford. 

It  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  Regiments,  and  in  the  fight  at  Cold  Harbor,  June,  1864, 
together  with  the  Fourth  Texas  Regiment  and  Hampton's  S.  C.  Legion,  charged  one  mile 
and  captured  part  of  Porter's  line  with  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  held  them.  It  took 
part  in  all  the  principal  battles  in  Virginia  (except  Chancellorsville)  and  in  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,    and   surrendered   at   Appomattox. 

-  Flag  of  the  Nineteenth  Georgia  Regiment.  Was  one  of  the  Regiments  of  General 
Alfred  H.  Colquitt's  Brigade.  Took  part  in  nearly  all  the  battles  of  Virginia  and  Maryland. 
Was  in  the  battle  of  Ocean  Pond,  or  Olustee,  Florida,  at  Fort  Sumter,  S.  C,  and  helped 
repulse  Grant's  assault  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  1864,  when  7000  Federals  were  killed  and 
wounded  in  just  twenty  minutes  by  the  clock.  Later  in  1864,  Colquitt's  Brigade  was  sent 
South  again  to  re-enforce  Joe  Johnston's  army  before  Sherman,  and  surrendered  in  North 
Carolina  on  April  26,   1865. 

Flag  of  the  Twenty-first  Georgia  Regiment.  This  Regiment  has  the  distinction  of 
sustaining  a  greater  percentage  of  losses  during  the  four  years  of  service  than  any  other 
Georgia  Regiment.  At  the  second  battle  of  Manassas  it  lost  64  per  cent,  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  remnant  held  their  ground. 

It  was  one  of  Trimble's  Brigade  in  Jackson's  Valley  Campaign,  taking  part  in  all  the 
engagements  against  Milroy,  Banks,  Fremont  and  Shields.  Afterwards  became  a  part  of 
the  Doles-Cook  Brigade,  Rodes'  Division,  and  fought  in  all  the  battles  in  Virginia,  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania.  Surrendered  fifty  men  at  Appomattox,  where  the  flag  was  given  up. 
Colonel  John  T.  Mercer,  its  Colonel,  was  a  West  Pointer,  and  was  killed  at  Plymouth,  N.  C, 
when  Hoke's  Division  captured  that  place. 

Flag  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Georgia  Regiment.  This  Regiment,  one  of  the  best  fighting 
Regiments  of  Gordon's  Fighting  Georgia  Brigade,  was  commanded  by  Col.  Edmund  N. 
Atkinson.  It  took  part  under  Lawton,  Gordon  and  Evans  in  all  the  battles  in  Virginia, 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  from  June,  1862.  to  April,  1865,  at  Appomattox,  when  it 
surrendered  with  less  than   one  hundred  men. 

No  better -Regiment  ever  fought  for  the  South. 

Flag  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Georgia  Regiment.  Commanded  by  Colonel  (afterwards 
General)  Ed.  L.  Thomas,  and  formed  part  of  Thomas'  Brigade,  A.  P.  Hill's  Third  Corps. 

Served  under  Jackson  until  his  death,  when  the  Third  Corps  was  organized  and  placed 
under  command  of  General  A.  P.  Hill. 

Took  part  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania, 
and  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

Flag  of  the  Forty-fourth  Georgia  Regiment.  Commanded  by  the  gallant  Robert  A. 
Smith  of  Macon,  Ga.,  and  was  one  of  the  Regiments  of  J.  G.  Walker's,  then  R..S.  Ripley's 
Brigade,  D.  H.  Hill's  Division,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

After  General  Ripley  had  been  severely  wounded,  Gen.  Geo.  Doles  became  the  Brigade 
Commander,  and  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment  remained  in  this  Brigade  until  its  surrender. 

On  May  10  1864,  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  General  Upton's  storming  column  of  ten 
picked  Regiments  assaulted  Doles's  Brigade  of  four  small  Regiments  and  captured  about 
60  per  cent  of  this  Regiment,  among  them  the  Color  Bearer.  For  twenty  minutes  Upton's 
men  held  a  small  part  of  the  Confederate  line,  but  Gordon's  Brigade  came  to  the  assistance 


Battle  Flag  of  the  14th  Georgia 

Infantry. 

Captured  at  Appomattox 

C.  H.,  April  9   1865. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  16th  Georgia 
Infantry. 

Captured  at  Appomattox 
C    H..  April  3,  186.5. 


Battle  Flag  of  35th  Georgia  Infantry. 

Captured  at  Appomattox  C.  H.,  April  !).  1865 


of  Doles  and  the  Federals  were  driven  back.     The  Forty-fourth  served  during  the  war 
and  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

Flag  of  the  Forty-fifth  Georgia  Regiment.  The  Forty-fifth  Georgia  Regiment,  Colonels 
Thos.  Hardeman,  Jr.  and  Thomas  J.  Simmons,  was  one  of  the  Regiments  of  Thomas's 
Brigade,  Pender's  Division,  A.  P.  Hill's  Corps.  It  fought  wherever  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  fought,  and  was  a  most  gallant  command.     They  surrendered  at  Appomattox  C.  H. 

Col.  Simmons  is  now  the  honored  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Georgia. 

Flag  of  the  Forty-ninth  Georgia'Regiment.  This  Regiment  was  also  one  of  General  E. 
L.  Thomas's  Georgia  Brigade  of  Pender's  Division.  A.  P.  Hill's  Third  Corps,  Army  of  North- 
ern Virginia.  It  participated  gallantly  in  all  the  campaigns  in  Virginia,  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  surrendered  at  Appomattox  C.  H.,  April  9,  1865.  The  rank  and  file 
were  from  among  the  sturdy,  full-blooded  Middle  Georgia  Americans,  many  of  them  men 
of  wealth,  and  all  of  them  patriotic. 

Flag  of  the  Fiftieth  Georgia  Regiment.  The  Fiftieth  Regiment  was  from  the  Southern 
Counties  of  Georgia,  and  was  one  of  the  Regiments  of  General  Paul  J.  Semmes's  Brigade. 
McLaw's  Division,  Longstreet's  Corps,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

It  was  commanded  by  Colonel  W.  R.  Manning  and  Peter  McGlashcrn,  the  latter  now 
commanding   the    Georgia    Division  of  United  Confederate  Veterans. 

This  Regiment  participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
was  engaged  and  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

Flag  of  the  Fifty-first  Georgia  Regiment.  This  Regiment  was  one  of  General  Paul 
J.  Semmes's  Brigade,  and  served  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  It  belonged  to  McLaw's 
Division,  Longstreet's  Corps,  participated  in  the  battles  in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  surrendered  at  Appomattox.    . 

It  was  a  fine  command  and  reflected  honor  upon  Georgia  on  many  a  hard-fought   field. 

Flag  of  the  Sixtieth  Georgia  Regiment.  This  was  one  of  the  Regiments  of  the  Georgia 
Brigade  first  commanded  by  General  A.  R.  Lawton,  one  of  Georgia's  distinguished  soldiers 
and  citizens,  who  becoming  disabled  for  field  service  by  wounds,  was  appointed  Quarter- 
master-General by  President  Davis. 

General  Gordon  succeeded  him,  and  after  his  promotion,  General  Clement  A.  Evans 
subsequently  commanded  the  Division  to  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Appomattox  and  is 
now  Commander  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  Department,  U.  C.  V. 

This  Regiment  took  part  in  all  the  battles  in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania, 
and  surrendered  at  Appomattox;  taking  part  in  the  last  battle,  joining  in  the  last  successful 
charge  of  Jackson's  Old  Division,  commanded  by  General  Evans,  even  after  the  flag  of 
truce  had  been   sent  in. 

Notice  of  the  truce  and  surrender  was  carried  from  Gordon  to  Evans  by  one  of  General 
Sheridan's  Staff  Officers,  or  Couriers. 

Flag  of  the  Sumter  Flying  Artillery.  This  Company  was  from  Americus,  Sumter 
County,  Ga.,  and  was  commanded  by  Captain  Allen  S.  Cutts,  who  was  afterwards  promoted 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  given  command  of  the  Eleventh  Battalion  of  Artillery,  more 
familiarly  known   as  Cutts'   Battalion. 

This  flag  was  surrendered  at  Sailor's  Creek,  near  Appomattox,  four  days  before  General 
Lee  surrendered  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

The  Sumter  Flying  Artillery  did  great  service  in  all  the  campaigns  of  the  Army  of 
Northern. Virginia,  and  was  one  of  the  best  Artillery  Companies  furnished  by  Georgia. 

Flag  of  Cobb's  Legion  of  Infantry.  This  Regiment  was  one  of  Cobb's  Georgia  Brigade, 
commanded  by  Col.  Thos.  R.  R.  Cobb,  who  was  afterwards  promoted  to  Brigadier-General. 

It  was  in  all  the  engagements  fought  by  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

At  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862,  this  Brigade  held  the  advance  line  in  front  of 
Mayre's  Hill,  and  repulsed  repeated  assaults  by  Burnside's  right  wing.  They  were  aided 
late  in  the  fight  by  Kershaw's  and  Ransom's  Brigades,  but  refused  to  leave  the  post  of  honor. 
Gen.  Thos.  Cobb  was  killed  in  this  battle,  and  Gen.  W.  T.  Wofford  afterwards  commanded  it. 

At  Crampton's  Gap,  Maryland,  in  September,  1862,  this  Regiment  was  overwhelmed 
by  parts  of  Franklin's  Corps  of  McClellan's  Army.  Lieut. -Col.  Jeff  Lamar  was  mortally 
wounded  while  commanding.  He  had  received,  one  wound,  and  was  lying  on  the  field. 
Near  by  were  other  wounded  men,  among  them  Lieut.  Wm.  B.  Lowe.  Lieut.  Lowe  said 
that  the  command  was  being  surrounded  and  called  to  Col.  Lamar  to  order  his  regiment 
out  of  the  perilous  position  it  was  vainly  trying  to  hold.  This  heroic  officer  asked  the 
Lieutenant  to  hold  him  up  until  he  could  give  the  command.  The  wounded  Lieutenant 
crawled  to  his  side,  and  with  painful  effort  raised  his  Colonel  to  his  feet.  With  super- 
human effort  he  ordered  his  regiment  to  move,  "By  the  left  flank,  double  quick."  Just  as 
he  issued  the  order  another  vengeful  bullet  passed  through  his  body  and  the  Lieutenant 
gently  laid  him  down  to  die  among  his  heroic  comrades. 

With  such  officers,  Cobb's  Legion  could  not  have  been  anything  except  a  glorious  com- 
mand. 

W.  H.  Harrison, 
'      Adjutant,  Atlanta  Camp  No.  159,  U.  C.  V..  Atlanta,  Ga. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  7th  Georgia 
Volunteers 
No  date  of  rapt 


Flag  of  Washington  Rifles,  a  Georgia 

military  organization. 

No  date  of  capture  given. 


^■: 


Flag  of  an  Unknown  Georgia  Military  Organization. 
No  date  of  capture  given. 


Flag  of  the  ioth  Missouri  Battery  (Barrett's'). 
Captured  at  Columbus,  Ga.,  April  16,  1865. 


Flag  of  an  Unknown  Missouri  Infantry  Regiment. 
Captured  at  the  Battle  of  Franklin,  November  30,  1864. 


Missouri  Confederate  Flags. 

We  have  been  unable  to  secure  any  information  in  regard  to  the  Confed- 
erate   flags'   of    Missouri    excepting  .the    information    contained  in  the  letter 
below   from  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  of  Missouri: 

May  24th,  1905. 
Mr.  Charles  E.  Ware, 

Manager  Buxton  &  Skinner  Stationery  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
Dear  Sir: — 

The  flags  recently  returned  to  the  State  of  Missouri  by  the  War  Department,  and  of 
which  photographs  were  sent  you  by  Mr.  Simms  of  this  City,  are  two  in  number. 

The  first  is  of  the  Tenth  Missouri  Battery,  otherwise  known  as  Barrett's  Battery.  The 
flag  was  captured  with  its  bearer  at  Columbus,  Ga.,  April  16,  1865,  by  Private  John  Kenney 
of  the  Fourth  Iowa  Cavalry,  after  a  struggle  with  its  bearer  for  possession  of  the  flag. 

The  other,  larger,  flag  is  that  of  a  Missouri  Infantry  Regiment.  The  number  of  the 
Regiment  has  been  torn  off,  and  I  am  unable  to  give  it.  The  names  of  six  battles,  in  which 
the  flag  was  carried,  have  been  sewed  on  the  flag.  They  are  "Big  Black,"  "Elk  Horn," 
"Iuka,"  "Corinth,"  "Vicksburg,"  "Port  Gibson,"  also  another  beginning  "Kers — ,"  with 

the  last  letters  missing.     Upon  the  flag' is  printed  in  ink,  "Captured  by  Sergt.  Alfred 

(last  name  blurred)  Company  K,  Ninety-seventh  O.  V.  I.,  at  the  Battle  of  Franklin,  Novem- 
ber 30,   1864." 

I  regret  that  I  am  not  able  to  give  you  further  information.  There  are  in  this  Office 
no  Confederate  Records,  and  none  of  the  Confederate  Veterans  who  have  looked  at  these 
flags  have  been  able  to  give  me  any  further  part  of  their  history. 

I   am,   very  respectfully, 

James  A.  DeArmond. 

Adjutant  General. 


Battle  Flag  of  the  15th  Louis 
iana  Regiment 

Captured  at  battle  of  Spottsyl 
vania,  May  12,  1864. 


Flag  of  the  12th  Louisiana 
Regiment 

Captured  at  Peach  Tree  Creek 
Ga.,  July  12,  1864. 


Battle  FUg  of  the  2nd  Louisiana  Regiment   Infantry  Volunteers 
Captured  at  battle  .if  Spottsvl vania,  May  12.  1S64, 


BELMOKT 
MWFRE£SBO«0- 


i;/ 


f/J 


Flag  of  Austin's  Battalion,  Louisiana. 
Captured  at  Columbus,  Ga.,  April  16,  1865. 


Louisiana. 

CAPTURED  BATTLE  FLAGS  OF  THE  CONFEDERACY. 
Returned  to  Louisiana  Division,  U.  C.  V. 

The  presentation  of  returned  Confederate  Flags  which  occurred  in  New  Orleans. 
April  13th,  in  Memorial  Hall,  was  an  event  freighted  with  significance,  and  tinged  with 
tenderest  sentiment. 

The  occasion  was  an  auspicious  one,  being  as  it  were  an  open  avowal  and  assurance 
of  the  healing  of  all  old  wounds,  forcibly  indicative  of  the  golden  epoch  of  amicable  rela- 
tionship between  the   north  and  south. 

Faded,  blood-stained  and  bullet-rent  these  revered  relics  were  unfurled  to  view, 
and,  as  they  fluttered  once  again  over  the  assemblage  of  Confederate  veterans,  associations 
were  potent  in  recalling  an  era  hallowed  within  the  memory  of  every  loyal-hearted  south- 
erner. 

Like  receiving  an  old  comrade  back  into  the  ranks,  these  emblems  of  a  loved  lost  cause 
were  welcomed  with  reverent  ovation  by  the  old  soldiers  who  fought  so  valiantly  under 
their  glowing  standards. 

With  uncovered  head,  softened  tread  and  whispered  breath,  one  pauses  before  the 
case  of  treasured  mementoes,  and,  gazing  upon  their  tattered  remnants  bearing  time-faded 
inscriptions,  is  inspired  with  a  feeling  of  sacred  reverence  for  the  silent  story  of  heroism, 
bloodshed  and  sacrifice  they  reveal — while  the  following  beautiful  lines  are  brought  to 
mind: 

'Not  long  unfurled  was  I  known, 

For  Fate  was  against  me; 
But  I  flashed  over  a  Pure  Cause 

And  on  land  and  sea 
So  fired  the  hearts  of  men  into  heroism 

That  the  world  honored  me. 
Within  my  folds  the  dead  who  died  under  me 

Lie  fitly  shrouded, 
And  my  tattered  colors, 

Crowded  with  a  thousand  shining  victories, 
Have  become  for  the  people  who  love  me, 
A  glorified  memory." 


Flag  of  the  Second  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry  Volunteers.  This  flag  of  regulation 
infantry  battle  flag,  four  feet  square  with  two-inch  yellow  binding  ornamented  with  white 
silk  stars  and  half-inch  wide  silk  fillet,  bears  the  numbers  192  in  black  stenciled  figures 
and  between  the  bands  of  the  cross  on  its  red  field  are  inscribed  the  following  battles: 
Frazier's  Farm,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas.  No.  2,  Chantilly.  Sharpsburg,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville,  Winchester  No.  2,  Harper's  Ferry,  Gettysburg. 

The  flag  of  this  regiment  bears  many  bullet  scars  and  tatters,  showing  the  active  service 
it  has  been  through.  This  flag  is  very  likely  the  one  for  the  capture  of  which  a  medal  of 
Honor  was  awarded,  as  the  following  extract  from  the  list  of  such  records  as  are  to  be 
found  concerning  it: 

"Charles  H.  Fasnacht,  Sergeant  Company  A,  Ninety-ninth  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
Ma)'  12,  1864,  captured  flag  of  Second  Louisiana  Tigers,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va." 

Flag  of  the  Second  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry.  This  flag  of  regulation  infantry 
design  is  made  of  bunting  with  white  binding  forming  a  border,  white  silk  stars  and  white 
silk  fillet  half-inch  wide  forms  an  ornamentation  around  the  blue  cross.  It  leaves  the 
number  ISO  in  stenciled  black  figures  on  the  white  binding. 

•  This  flag  is  reported  to  have  seen  little  battle  service  at  the  time  of  its  capture,  in 
consequence  of  which  there  are  no  bullet  rents  marring  its  wholeness  and  no  battles  inscribed. 
The  only  thing  defacing  its  surface  is  a  few  moth-eaten  spots.  It  is  attached  to  a  short, 
rough-hewn  staff.  Accompanying  this  flag  is  the  following  legend,  which  appears  to  have 
been  written  some  days  after  its  capture,  and  signed  by  Brig.-Gen.  G.  W.  Getty:  "The  flag 
of  the  Second  Louisiana  regiment  was  captured  in-the  battle  of  the  22d  of  September,  1864. 
at  Fisher's  Hill  near  Strasburg,  Va.,  by  Private  James  Connor,  Company  F,  Forty-Third 
New  York  Volunteers  Sharp  Shooters,  at  Headquarters,  Second  Division,  Sixth  Corps, 
in  the  earthworks  occupied  by  Carpenter's  Rebel  Battery.  Signed,  G.  W.  Getty,  Harri- 
sonburg, Va.,  Brigadier-General,  commanding.  In  this  battle  the  Second  Louisiana  was 
attached  to  Staffeed's  Brigade  of  Maj.-Gen.  John  B.  Geedon's  Division. 

This  brigade  seems  to  have  held  its  part  of  the  works  at  Fisher's  Hill  until  most  others 
had  left,  when  the  Federals  flanked  the  left  of  the  Confederate  line,  which  crumbled  to 
pieces  from  left  to  right. 

Eighth  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry  Battle  Flag.  The  legend  attached  to  this  standard 
shows  that  its  capture  was  effected  November  7,  1863,  at  Rappahannock  Station,  Va.,  by 
Lieut.  A.   S.   Lyon,  Company  K,   Fifth  Maine  Volunteers. 

The  flag  is  attached  to  a  light  staff,  seven  feet  high  that  has  been  broken  and  the  breaks 
secured  by  a  tin  tube.  Accompanying  this  flag  was  a  wooden  spcar-head  with  battle  ax 
cross  piece  painted  black,  which  must  have  surmounted  the  staff  and  was  broken  off. 

Flag  of  the  Twelfth  Louisiana.  This  flag  returned  as  having  been  captured  from  the 
Twelfth  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry,  is  a  large  national  Confederate  flag,  88  inches  long 
by  50  inches  wide.  It  is  made  of  close-woven  bunting,  with  a  yellow  fringe  around  it. 
It  is  the  second  pattern  Confederate  flag,  white,  field  with  white  fillet  along  the  blue 
cross.  Painted  in  black  on  the  white  field  is  the  following  legend:  "Twelfth  Louisiana, 
One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry,  Twentieth  Volunteer  Corps,  of  the 
Cumberland."  This  flag  shows  that  it  has  been  through  active  service  by  reason  of  the 
bullet  rents  and  blood  stains  upon  it.     It  is  also  very  badly  moth  eaten. 

The  Twelfth  Louisiana  Regiment  in  this  battle  was  part  of  Brig.-Gen.  T.  M.  Scott's 
Brigade  of  Loring's  Division  of  Stewart's  Corps,  Col.  Noel  L.  Nelson  was  in  command  of 
the  regiment.  In  a  charge  of  its  brigade  on  the  12th  of  July  in  what  is  called  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  in  front  of  Atlanta,  the  brigade  was  repulsed,  and  the  Twelfth 
Louisiana  suffered  heavily  owing  to  the  failure  of  an  adjoining  command  to  advance  in  line. 

In  Col.  Nelson's  report  of  this  battle  he  mentioned  no  loss  of  colors,  but  states  out 
of  318  men  the  regiment  had  57  killed  and  wounded,  and  9  missing.  The  loss  had  fallen 
mainly  on  three  companies  of  the  regiment,  that  pushed  farthest  forward  in  the  charge. 

In  the  same  records  is  to  be  found  the  report  of  Lieut.-Col.  E.  F.  Dutton,  commanding 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois  Volunteers.  "Among  the  trophies  captured  by  my 
command  was  one  set  of  colors  claimed  by  Rebel  wounded  to  belong  to  the  Twelfth  Louis- 
iana Infantry."     This  is  the  flag  described  above. 

Flag  (so  called)  of  Thirteenth  Louisiana  Regiment — Really  the  Fifteenth  Louisiana 
Regiment.  This  flag  was  sent  and  on  the  legends  attached  to  it  is  designated  as  that  of 
the  Thirteenth  Louisiana  Regiment.  This  was  evidently  not  properly  examined  at  the 
time  of  its  capture  or  when  the  legends  were  placed  upon  it.  On  the  yellow  figures  one  and 
one-half  inches  high  it  bears  the  number  15  and  the  letters  La.,  proving  it  to  be  the  flag 
of  the  Fifteenth  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry  .  The  battles  inscribed  on  it  were  all  fought 
by  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  to  which  the  Fifteenth  Louisiana  was  attached.  The 
Thirteenth  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry  was  attached  to  the  Army  of  Tennessee  C.  S.  A 
and  never  fought  in  the  held  of  operations  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

The  flag  described  was  captured  by  Philip  Schlaterer,  Private.  Company  F,  Seventy- 
third_New  York  Infantry,  May  12,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.     The  flag  is  of  bunting  of 


Battle  Flag  of  Bouanchaud's  Battery,  Pointe  Coupee  Artillery 
Captured  at  Battle  of  Nashville,  Dec.  16,  1864. 


regulation  battle  flag  size  for  infantry.  It  is  four  feet  square,  with  two  inches  white  bunting 
binding,  white  silk  stars  and  three-quarter  of  an  inch  fillet  along  the  blue  cross.  On  the 
outside  white  binding  it  bears  the  number  1.33  in  one  and  one-half  inch  stenciled  black 
figures,  and  the  same  in  ink  on  the  cloth  legend.  In  yellow  paint  stands  the  number  15 
above  the  center  star  and  La.  below  it  in  one  and  one-half  inch  figures.  The  following 
battles  are  inscribed  upon  this  flag:  Cold  Harbor,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas 
No.  2,  Chantilly,  Sharpsburg,  Harper's  Ferry,  Fredericksburg,  Charlottesville,  Manassas 
No.  1,  Gettysburg,  Winchester,  Williamsburg,  Seven  Pines.  The  flag- is  rent  and  torn  in 
many  places  by  bullets  and  shell,  but  otherwise  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 

The  flag  was  captured  at  the  same  time  as  that  of  the  Second  Louisiana  Regiment, 
when  Hancock,  the  Federal  General,  carried  the  bloody  angle  and  broke  through  the 
Confederate  lines  where  stood  Col.  Johnson's  division,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1864,  at 
Spottsylvania. 

Flag  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Louisiana  Regiment.  The  legend  inscribed  in  ink  along 
the  white  fillet  that  bordered  the  blue  cross  upon  this  standard  is  as  follows: 

"Twenty-fourth  Infantry  Battle  Flag,  captured  by  First- Lieut.  W.  S.  Simmons,  Corn- 
pan}'  Eleventh  Missouri  Volunteers  at  battle  of  Brentwood  Hills  near  Nashville,  December 
16,    1864." 

Lieut.  Simmons  was  awarded  a  medal  of  Honor  for  this  capture.  Two  other  flags 
were  captured  at  the  same  time  by  the  Eleventh  Missouri,  but  in  both  cases  it  is  stated 
that  no  definite  idea  exists  as  to  the  regiment  they  belonged. 

The  Louisiana  Infantry  commands  in  that  battle  were  the  First,  Fourth,  Thirteenth, 
Sixteenth,  Twentieth,  Twenty-fifth,  Thirtieth  Regiments,  and  Fourteenth  Battalion  com- 
posing Gen.  R.  L.  Gibson's  Brigade  of  Gen.  H.   D.   Clayton's  Division,   Stephen  D.   Lee's 


Battle  Flag  of  2nd  Company  Washington  Artillery  of  New  Orleans,  La., 
Captured  in  battle  of  Appomattox  Station,  April  S,  1S65. 


Corps.  This  division  was  the  right  of  the  corps.  It  repulsed  the  attacks  of  the  enemy 
and  left  its  works  only  after  the  whole  line  to  the  left  had  been  broken. 

The  flag  is  after  the  battle  flag  pattern  for  Infantry,  being  5  feet  square,  made  of  loose 
woven  bunting  with  white  stars,  border  and  fillet  of  cotton  cloth.  The  fillet  is  an  inch 
wide  and  bears  the  number  211  in  black  stenciled  figures,  one  and  one-half-inch  high.  It 
is  marked  with  blood  and  torn  by  bullets  and  shell;  appearing  by  these  defacements  to 
have  seen  much  active  service. 

Flag  of  Austin's  Battalion.  This  flag  belonged  to  Austin's  Battalion  and  was  captured 
at  Columbus,  Ga.,  April  16,  1865,  with  its  bearer  a  sergeant,  by  private  Andrew  Tibbett. 
Third  Iowa  Cavalry,  First  Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  M  D.  M.,  inside  the 
•line  of  works  and  to  the  right  of  the  four  gun  battery  on  the  right  of  the  enemy's  line.  The 
flag  is  of  the  Confederate  national  pattern,  white  fillet  with  battle  flag  of  the  union  in  upper 
corner.  It  is  of  fine  material  and  beautifully  made.  This  flag  was  made  by  the  ladies 
of  Mobile  and  sent  to  the  Battalion  at  the  opening  of  the  war.  Inscribed  on  it  in  red  letters 
two  inches  high  are  the  names,  Austin's  Battalion,  Shiloh,  Belmont,  Chickamauga,  Farm- 
ington,  Murfreesboro,  and  bears  crossed  cannons  also  in  red  cloth  six  inches  long  below 
the  battle  flag  union.  The  stars  of  the  battle  flag  are  of  white  silk  and  the  fillet  along  the 
blue  cross  of  the  same  material.  Andrew  W.  Tibbett  received  a  medal  of  Honor  for  the 
capture  of  this  flag. 

Flag  of  Bouanchaud's  Battery  Pointe  Coupee  Artillery.  The  following  legend  is  inscribed 
on  the  red  field  of  this  flag,  captured  from  Bouanchaud's  Battery  at  the  battle  of  Nashville, 
December  16,    1S64. 


Battle  Flag  of  2nd  Louisiana  Regiment  Infantry 
Captured  in  Battle  of  Fisher's  Hill,  Sept.  22,  1864. 


"Bouanchaud's  Battery  Flag.  Captured  by  William  May,  Private,  Company  H 
Thirty-third  Iowa  Infantry,  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division  Detachment,  Army  of 
Tennessee,  at  the  battle  of  Brentwood  Hills,  near  Nashville,  December  16,  1864." 

Report  of  Col  William  R.  Marshall,  Seventh  Minnesota  Infantry,  commanding  Third 
Brigade,  First  Division  Detachment,  Army  of  Tennessee,  says:  "Most  bravely  did  the 
lines  rise  with  cheers,  breasting  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  from  four  guns  in  our  front, 
charge  and  carry  the  strong  works  on  the  left  of  the  Cranny  White  Pike.  The  splendid 
Pointe  Coupee  Battery  of  four  Napoleon  twelve  pounders,  a  great  number  of  small  arms 
and  300  to  400  prisoners  were  taken. 

"William  May,  a  private  of  Capt.  Benson's  Company  H,  Thirty-second  Iowa,  as  the  Com- 
pany approached  the  works,  dashed  forward  and  captured  the  battery  and  guidon.  Several 
official  papers  of  this  battery  were  also  captured,  proving  it  to  have  been  A.  Bouanchaud's." 

William  May's  interesting  account  of  the  incidentals  told  as  follows:  "On  the  16th  of 
December  when  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Detachment  Army  of  Tennessee, 
was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy's  works  as,  my  regiment,  the  Thirty-second  Iowa  Infantry, 
was  on  the  right  of  the  Brigade  approached  the  earthworks,  I  saw  this  rebel  battery 
flag  with  the  guns,  and  ran  ahead  of  the  regiment  over  the  works,  and  took  it  out  of  the 
Rebel's  hand.  In  a  valise  close  by,  I  found  some  brass  buttons,  manufactured  at  Mont- 
gomery with  letter  B.,  German  text.  Also  a  captain's  shoulder  straps,  some  papers,  invoices 
of  ordinance  stores,  etc.,  showing  the  Battery  to  have  been  A.  Bouanchaud's'."  The  flag 
is  about  four  feet  square  of  crimson  bunting  with  yellow  fringe,  bearing  a  diagonal  cross, 
upon  which  are  thirteen  silken  stars.  The  flag  shows  little  of  the  wear  and  tear  of  active 
service,  and  must  have  been  found  in  Capt.  Bouanchaud's  valise,  which  it  is  claimed,  the 
captor  must  have  thoroughly  explored. 

Flag  of  the  Washington  Artillery.  This  flag,  concerning  the  capture  of  which  a  con- 
nection of  opinion  has  ever  existed,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  group  of  tattered 
emblems. 


Many  doubts  were  expressed  as  to  the  authentic  capture  of  this  flag.  When,  however, 
it  was  first  removed  from  the  case  upon  the  night  of  the  presentation,  and  after  careful 
unrolling  and  examination  all  doubts  were  banished,  for  it  proved  to  be  the  veritable 
standard  of  the  Second  Company  of  this  Battalion.  When  straightened  out,  the  binding 
revealed  the  inscription:  "Second  Company  Washington  Artillery  of  N.  0."  Colonel  John 
B.  Richardson  who  commanded  this  company  at  Appomattox,  testified  to  the  identity 
of  this  returned  flag  as  being  the  battle  flag  of  his  Company,  and  the  writing  upon  it,  as 
that  of  Sergeant  Caesar  Huchez,  one  of  its  members.  The  flag  is  of  close  woven  bunting, 
three  feet  square,  of  regulation  artillery-battery  pattern,  bordered  with  a  two-inch  white 
cotton  binding,  while  white  silken  stars  and  fillets  adorn  the  edges  of  the  blue  cross.  It  is 
numbered  303,  in  one  and  one-half-inch  figures,  stenciled  in  black  on  the  red  field.  The 
name  of  the  Company  is  inscribed  upon  the  upper  border  in  large  letters.  The  upper 
border  is  separated  from  the  main  body  of  the  flag  by  a  rent  extending  its  full  length. 

This  glorious  standard  of  one  of  Louisiana's  most  valiant  regiments  shows  the  ravages 
of  battle.  Tattered,  torn  and  streaked  with  blood,  which  in  many  places  obliterate  the 
bright,  little  white  silk  stars,  while  the  black  spots  here  and  there  show  the  passage  through 
and  along  it  of  bullets  and  shells. 

This  flag  is  still  attached  to  the  staff  that  bore  it  in  its  last  battle. 

Of  this  flag,  Col.  Richardson  says,  that  during  that  last  battle  of  April  8th  at 
Appomattox  Station,  he  handed  the  flag  into  the  keeping  of  Private  William  W.  Davis, 
a  splendid  soldier,  with  instructions  to  secrete  it  on  his  person.  Nothing  was  ever  heard 
of  this  noble  young  hero  after  the  trust  imposed  upon  him  by  his  superior  officer. 

It  was  nightfall  when  the  fighting  began  with  the  Federal  Cavalry,  that  had  cut  through 
the  column  of  the  retiring  Artillery,  and  the  battle  raged  unceasingly  throughout  the  night. 
The  flag  was  evidently  captured  from  Davis  before  he  could  carry  out  his  commanding 
officer's  instructions,  and  the  blood  which  stains  this  flag  must  be  that  shed  by  the  gallant 
soldier  in  his  struggle  to  preserve  it  from  the  enemy. 

This  flag  was  captured  in  the  Battle  of  Appomattox  Station,  April  8,  1865,  by  Barney 
Shields,    Company    E,    Second    Virginia    Volunteers    Cavalry,    Third    Brigade.     Cavalry 
Division,   Brevet  Major -General  George  A.  Custer,  commanding. 

Rebellion  records  show  the  following  list  of  medals  of  Honor  awarded  is  to  be  found: 
"Bernard  Shields,  Private  Company  E,  Second  West  Virginia  Cavalry,  April  8,  1865, 
captured  flag  of  the  Washington  Artillery  at  Appomattox,  Va." 

Flag  of  an  Unknown  or  Uncertain  Louisiana  Infantry  Regiment.  This  flag  is  the 
regulation  infantry  battle  flag  of  bunting,  four  feet  square,  white  binding  two  inches  around 
the  flag,  while  the  blue  cross  is  ornamented  with  white  silken  stars  and  white  fillet  half- 
inch  wide.  It  has  several  patches  and  its  flying  end  is  ravelled  and  torn:  it  shows  bullet 
marks  and  is  slightly  moth  eaten. 

The  number  14  is  marked  on  the  white  cotton  cloth  sewed  in  one  corner,  on  which 
is  written  the  following  legend: 

"Confederate  battle  flag  of  the  Eighth  Louisiana  Regiment,  captured  at  Rappahannock 
Station,  Va.,  November  7,  1863,  by  Sergeant  Otis  C.  Roberts,  Sixth  Regiment,  Maine 
Volunteers,  Sixth  Brigade,  First  Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  captured  in  hand  to  hand 
fight  in  trenches." 

There  are  no  battles  inscribed  on  it,  nor  any  number  or  letters  designating  it  as  belong- 
ing to  the  Eighth  Louisiana  Regiment. 

This  Regiment  belonged  to  Brig.-Gen.  Harry  T.  Hays'  Brigade,  which  on  November 
7,  1863,  at  Rappahannock  Station,  was  mostly  all  captured  by  the  Federal  Gen.  Sedgwick's 
Corps.  Gen.  Meade  reports  having  there  taken  four  Colonels,  three  Lieutenant-Colonels, 
many  other  officers  and  800  men  prisoners,  together  with  the  capture  of  .four  battle  flags. 

The  account  of  the  capture  of  this  flag  is  as  follows: 

"Sergeant  Otis  O.  Roberts,  of  Company  H,  with  only  five  men  rushed  upon  the  color 
bearer  of  the  Eighth  Louisiana  Regiment  who  was  in  the  midst  of  his  color  company, 
and  after  a  hand  to  hand  fight,  in  which  bayonets  were  freely  used,  succeeded  in  capturing 
the  colors  and  compelling  the  company  to  surrender.  Sergeant  Roberts  was  awarded  a 
medal  for  his  valiant  deed  of  capture." 

T.  W.  Castleman, 

Adjutant-General   and   Chief  of  Staff, 
Louisiana  Division  United  Confederate  Veterans. 

New  Orleans,    La. 


Flag  Carried  by  the  47th  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Volunteers. 
No  date  of  capture  given. 


North  Carolina  Flags. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  returned  Confederate  flags  of  North  Carolina  have 
been  carefully  grouped  in  large  cases  in  the  Hall  of  History,  at  Raleigh,  it  was 
impossible,  in  the  short  time  before  which  this  publication  had  to  be  issued,  to 
secure  pictures  of  all  of  the  flags  in  the  collection  so  they  could  be  reproduced 
separately.  Below,  however,  is  given  the  history  complete  of  the  flags  returned 
by  the  Government  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

North  Carolina  bears  the  enviable  record  of  having  sent  more  troops 
to  the  Confederate  service  than  any  other  state  in  the  south  and  of  having  lost 
more  men  in  battle. 

The  flags  which  were  returned  here  late  last  March  by  the  United  States  War  Department 
to  Governor  Robert  B.  Glenn  were  placed  in  the  charge  of  the  director  of  the  Hall  of  History 
and  were  by  htm  arranged  in  four  cases  made  of  native  woods,  being  so  displayed  as  to  produce 
a  very  fine  effect,  to  show  the  number  of  the  Regiment  and  also  the  inscriptions  covering  the 
battles  in  which  each  Regiment  participated.  It  is  thought  that  in  no  other  state  has  such 
an  arrangement  been  carried  out.  There  are  thirty-two  of  the  flags.  Eleven  of  these  arc 
upon  the  staffs.  Some  of  the  staffs  are  mere  poles,  and  in  one  case  the  staff  is  a  pine  stick, 
with  the  bark  still  on.  In  this  ease  a  letter  has  been  received  from  the  color-bearer  in  which 
he  says  that  the  flag  was  being  taken  to  the  rear  by  the  regiment,  which  was  retreating  from 
an  overwhelming  force;  that  the  flag  caught  in  the  thick  undergrowth,  but  that  he  tore  it 
away  and  left  the  staff,  stopping  further  in  the  woods  and  cutting  the  little  pine  sapling. 
The  flags  show  the  great  number  of  engagements  in  which  the  North  Carolina  troops  partici- 
pated. Most  of  them  are  from  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  but  one  is  from  the  Western 
Army,  and  this  is  specially  displayed,  living  that  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Infantry.  A  monument 
is  to  be  dedicated  in  July  at  Chiekamauga  to  the  North  Carolinians  who  lost  their  lives  in  that 
great  battle,  in  which  eight  regiments  from  this  state  participated. 

There  are  also  in  the  Hall  of  History  a  number  of  other  Confederate  flags  of  peculiar 
interest,  notably  among  these  being  the  "Bethel"  flag,  which  is  that  which  was  borne  by  the 


Battle  Flag  of  the  38th  North  Carolina  Regiment. 
No  date  of  capture  given. 


First  Regiment  of  Volunteers  at  the  battle  of  Bethel,  Va.,  in  June,  1861,  where  the  regiment, 
constituting  the  principal  force  of  the  Confederates  and  under  command  of  Colonel  (after- 
wards Lietitenant-General)  Daniel  Harvey  Hill,  so  distinguished  itself  in  the  defeat  of  the 
Federals  that  the  North  Carolina  Legislature,  then  in  session,  directed  that  the  rarae  "Bethel" 
should  be  inscribed  upon  the  flag,  this  name  appearing  in  blue  silk.  The  regiment  was  also 
given  the  distinctive  name  of  the  "Bethel  Regiment"  and  hence  had  no  number,  even  in  the 
re-organization  of  the  North  Carolina  troops. 

Another  flag  was  that  used  at  the  headquarters  of  Major-General  Bryan  Grimes,  the 
ranking  officer  of  the  North  Carolina  troops  at  Appomattox,  under  whose  direction  the  last 
charge  was  made  at  Appomattox  Court  House  on  early  Monday  morning,  April  9,  1865,  when 
the  Confederate  infantry,  under  command  of  General  William  R.  Cox,  fired  the  last  volley 
and  drove  back  the  Federal  line,  and  the  cavalry  made  a  capture  of  four  guns  of  a  Federal 
battery  of  regulars,  of  the  Fourth  Artillery,  while  the  Confederate  sharp-shooters,  posted  in 
a  house,  kept  up  so  accurate  a  fire  as  to  enable  the  Confederates  to  retire  after  having  accom- 
plished these  two  objects.  The  Grimes  flag  was  displayed  at  his  headquarters  and  was  not 
taken  down  until  after  the  surrender,  when  it  was  cut  away  from  the  staff  and  brought  back 
to  Raleigh  by  one  of  General  Grimes'  couriers,  who  wrapped  it  around  his  body,  under  all  his 
clothing 

Another  flag  of  marked  interest  is  that  of  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment, 
which  was  in  turn  commanded  by  Z.  B.  Vance  (afterwards  Governor  and  U.  S.  Senator). 
Henry  King  Burgwyn  and  John  R.  Lane,  the  latter  of  whom  is  still  living  near  Raleigh.  Col. 
Burgwyn  was  killed  at  Gettysburg,  where  his  regiment,  as  stated  by  Col.  Fox  in  the  latter's 
well-known  book,  "Regimental  Losses  in  Battle,"  suffered  a  greater  loss  than  any  other 
regiment,  on  either  side,  during  the  entire  Civil  War. 

These  flags  attract  a  great  deal  of  attention,  as  do  the  hundreds  of  other  war  relics  shown 
in  the  great  collection,  the  latter  being  grouped  according  to  periods,  so  as  to  show  the  history 
of  the  state  from  its  earliest  settlement  in  1585  down  to  the  present  time.  A  complete  list 
of  the  flags  is  appended,  which  the  writer  made  after  a  personal  inspection  of  every  flag. 


Supposed  to  be  the  Flag  of  the  12th  Regiment  North  Carolina  Infantry 
No  date  of  capture  given 


All  the  flags  are  what  are  known  as  battle  flags,  except  four,  the  battle  flags  being  square 
in  shape,  of  solid  red  bunting,  with  cross-bars  and  with  stars  thereon  of  white.  In  almost 
every  case  the  regiment  is  painted  in  yellow  above  the  center  star  and  with  the  letters  "N. 
C."  below  the  star.  Unless  mention  is  made  otherwise,  all  the  flags  described  are  of  the  battle 
flag  class.     The  following  is  the  list: 

First  Regiment.  Captured  May  12,  1864  by  Private  D.  W.  Harris,  Company  B,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  in  the  charge  of  the  Second  Army  Corps 
on  the  morning  of  that  day.  The  names  of  the  following  battles  appear  on  the  flag,  being 
marked  in  stencil,  in  black  letters:  Winchester,  No.  2,  Gettysburg,  Boonesboro,  Sharpsburg, 
Fredericksburg,    Chancellorsville,    Mechanicsvillc,    Cold    Harbor,    Malvern    Hill. 

Fourth  Regiment.  No  inscription  as  to  its  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Seven  days  around 
Richmond,  First  and  Second  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  first  and  second  Maryland 
campaigns,    Spotsylvania,    Valley   campaign.    Seven    Pines. 

Battle  Flag,  Sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment.  Captured  at  Rappahannock  Station.  Va., 
May  7,  1863,  by  James  H.  Littlcfield,  Company  F,  Fifth  Maine  Volunteers. 

Sixth  Regiment.  Captured  at  Sailor's  Creek,  April  6,  1865,  by  Private  James  Kimball, 
Company  B,  Second  Regiment  West  Virginia  Cavalry.     No  inscription  showing  battles. 

Seventh  Regiment.  Captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1S65,  by  Private  John  E.  Mayberry 
Company  F,  First  Delaware  Regiment.  Names  of  battles:  Newbern,  Hanover,  Mechanics- 
ville,  Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas  Junction.  Manassas 
Plains,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shepherds  town,  Fredericksburg,  Wilderness, 
Chancellorsville. 

Twelfth  Regiment..  No  inscription  as  to  how  taken,  and  no  names  of  battles,  the  flag 
being  very  badly  mutilated. 


Flag  carried  by  the  46th  Regiment  North  Carolina  Volunteers 

This  flag  has  been  all  shot  away  excepting  the  red  field  shown. 

No  date  of  capture  given. 


Thirteenth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Cold  Harbor 
Malvern   Hill,   South  Mountain,   Sharpsburg,    Fredericksburg,   Chancellorsville. 

Thirteenth  Regiment.  Captured  May  6,  1864,  by  Sergeant  S.  Wrought,  Company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  Names  of  battles:  Williamsburg, 
Seven  Pines.  Cold  Harbor,  Malvern  Hill,  South  Mountain  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville. 

Sixteenth  Regiment.  Captured  at'Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863,  by  fourteen  Connecticut 
volunteers.  Names  of  battles:  Seven  Pines  Mechanics ville,  Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm, 
Cedar  Run,  Manassas,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shepherdstown,  Chancellors- 
ville, Fredericksburg. 

Eighteenth  Regiment.  Captured  May  21,  1864,  by  Lieutenant  A.  H.  Mitchell,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth  Pennsylvania.  Names  of  battles:  Hanover,  Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor, 
Frazier's  Farm,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas  Junction,  Manassas  Plains,  Ox  Hill, 
Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shepherdstown,  Fredericksburg,  Wilderness,  Chancellorsville. 

Eighteenth  Regiment.  Captured  at  Malvern  Hill,  July  20,  1864,  by  Private  Timothy 
Connors,  Company  E,  First  United  States  Cavalry.  Names  of  battles:  Hanover,  Mechan- 
icsville, Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Cedar  Run  Malvern  Hill,  Manassas  Junction,  Man- 
assas Plains,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  "Shepherdstown,  Chancellorsville, 
Fredericksburg. 

Eighteenth  Regiment.  Captured  near  Petersburg,  April  2,  1865,  by  Private  Frank 
Fesq,  Company  A,  Fortieth  New  Jersey.  Names  of  battles:  Wilderness,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg.  Falling  Waters,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas  Junction,  Manassas  Plains,  Ox  Hill, 
Harper's  Ferry,  Shepherdstown,  Fredericksburg,  Sharpsburg,  Hanover,  Mechanicsville, 
Cold   Harbor,   Frazier's  Farm,   Malvern   Hill. 

Twenty-second  Regiment.  Captured  by  Private  McDonough,  Forty-second  New 
York.  Names  of  battles:  Seven  Pines,  Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm, 
Cedar  Run,  Manassas,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shepherdstown,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville. 

Twenty-third  Regiment.  Captured  by  Second  Division,  First  Army  Corps,  at  Gettys- 
burg, July  2,  1863.  Names  of  battles:  Seven  Pines,  Malvern  Hill,  South  Mountain, 
Mechanicsville,   Cold  Harbor,   Sharpsburg,   Fredericksburg. 


Microfilmed 
SOLINET/ASERL  PROJECT 


Twenty-fourth  Regiment.  Captured  August  21,  1864,  by  Private  J.  A.  Rccd,  Eleventh 
Pennsylvania.     No  names  of  battles. 

Twenty-fourth  Regiment.  Captured  by  Private  David  Edwards,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  April  1,  1865,  in  battle.     No  names  of  battles. 

Twenty-sixth.  Captured  by  Sergeant  Alonzo  Smith,  Seventh  Michigan,  at  Hatcher's 
Run,  October  27,   1864.     No  names  of  battles. 

Twenty-eighth  Regiment.  Captured  by  Corporal  J.  M.  Condig,  Company  A,  Sixty- 
third  Pennsylvania,  May  12,  1864.  Names  of  battles:  Hanover,  Mcchanicsville,  Cold 
Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas  Junction,  Manassas  Plains, 
Ox  Hill.  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shcpherdstown,  Fredericksburg,  Wilderness,  Chan- 
cellors ville. 

Twenty-eighth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Hanover, 
Mcchanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas  Junction, 
Manassas  Plains,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Shcpherdstown,  Fredericksburg,  Sharpsburg, 
Wilderness,  Chanccllorsville,  Gettysburg,  Falling  Waters. 

Thirtieth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Seven  days  around 
Richmond,  first  and  second  Fredericksburg,  Chanccllorsville,  first  and  second  Maryland 
campaigns. 

Thirtieth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Seven  days  around 
Richmond,  first  and  second  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsvillc,  first  and  second  Maryland 
campaign.  (Right  side  of  flag  damaged,  part  being  apparently  cut  away,  also  part  of  lower 
right  section  of  cross  removed.  One  inscription  which  was  painted  on  a  slip  of  cloth  sewed 
to  the  flag  has  faded,   and  is  illegible.) 

Thirtieth  Regiment.  Captured  May  12,  1864,  at  the  Wilderness.  Names  of  battles: 
Mcchanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Malvern  Hill,   Booncsboro,  Sharpsburg    Fredericksburg. 

Thirty-third  Regiment.  Captured  by  First  Sergeant  J.  Kemp,  Company  A,  Fifth 
Michigan,  May  6,  1864.  Names  of  battles:  Newbern,  Hanover,  Mechanicsvillc,  Cold 
Harbor,  Manassas  Plains,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Frazier's  Farm,  Malvern 
Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Manassas  Junction,  Shephcrdstown,  Fredericksburg,  Wilderness,  Chan- 
ccllorsville. 

Thirty-fourth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Mechanics- 
villc, Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Cedar  Rvtn,  Manassas,  Ox  Hill,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharps- 
burg,   Shcpherdstown,    Fredericksburg,    Chanccllorsville. 

Thirty-fourth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  No  names  of  battles.  Thirteen 
stars  of  white  in  a  blue  field.      Red,  white  and  red  bars. 

Thirty-eighth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Cedar  Run, 
Manassas,  Ox  Hill,  Cold  Harbor,  Frazier's  Farm,  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shcpherds- 
town, Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsvillc 

Thirty-ninth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  Names  of  battles:  Murfrccsboro, 
Jackson,  Chickamauga.  These  names  are  cut  from  white  cloth  and  sewed  on.  The  border 
of  the  flag  next  to  the  staff  is  of  home-made  canvas.  The  name  of  the  regiment  is  given 
rather  oddly,  as  the  Thirty-ninth,  "N.  C.  I.,"  the  usual  designation  of  regiments  being 
"N.  C.  T." 

Forty-fifth  Regiment.  Captured  by  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  August 
17,  1864,  in  battle  near  Globe  Farm,  on  the  Weldon  Railway,  near  Petersburg.  No  names 
of  battles. 

Forty-sixth  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  No  names  of  battles.  This  is 
merely  the  field  of  a  State  flag,  the  remainder  having  in  some  way  been  destroyed.  The 
inscription  is:  "May  20,  1775,  May  20,  1861,"  with  a  large  white  star  between  the  inscrip- 
tions, and  below  them  the  words:  Forty-sixth  Regiment,  N.  C.  V.  The  staff  of  this  flag 
is  shown.     To  it  the  flag  was  tied  by  a  piece  of  shoe  string  and  two  pieces  of  twine. 

Forty-seventh  Regiment.  No  statement  as  to  fate.  No  names  of  battles.  This  is 
also  a  State  flag.  The  inscription  is:  "May  20,  1775;  May  20,  1861."  On  a  red  field 
with  a  white  star  between  the  inscriptions  the  remainder  of  the  flag  being  a  blue  bar  and 
a  white  one.     On  the  lower  part  appears:     "Forty-seventh  Regiment,  N.  C.  V." 

Forty-seventh  Regiment.  Captured  by  Sergeant  Daniel  Murphcy,  Nineteenth  Massa- 
chusetts Regiment,  at  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  October  2,  1864.      No  names  of   battles. 

Fifty-second  Regiment.     Captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863.      No  names  of  battles. 

Battle  Flag,  Fifty-Fourth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  on  part  of  staff  roughly  made 
of  wood,  this  flag  being  unique  in  having  only  twelve  stars  instead  of  the  official  thirteen. 
The  War  Department  sends  no  statement  as  to  the  fate  of  this  flag,  but  written  with  ink 
upon  the  fold  of  the  flag  around  the  staff  are  these  words:  "J,  C.  Gaunt,  Company  G.,  104 
O.  V.  1." 

Col,    F.   A.   Olds. 
Director   of   the    Hall   of   History, Raleigh,  N.  C. 


V   arious     F  J.a6s 
carried    by  the/ 

V^yoini  &d&iale/   Armie/s. 


